Transwoman gets membership of Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam

xCHENNAI: At a time when the importance of trans actors playing the role of transgender people on the silver screen is being discussed, Vaishu Lisa Vallal of Chennai, a transwoman, has become a member of the Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam. She is the first trans actor to be given an ID card by the sangam.


“This is an important step forward for the TG community,” says Vaishu, 27, who has acted in serials such as ‘Rajamannar Vagaiyara’ on Polimer TV and ‘Vaadi Rasathi’ on Captain TV.

“I play a very prominent character in the first serial and in the latter, I am one of the four female leads. And in both I play TG characters. I believe TG actors should play TG characters on screen as it will be more authentic and also draw more attention to our community.”

Vaishu is a self-taught actor. “I used to watch movies and serials on TV and learned how to act,” she says, adding that she took it up seriously in 2010

Shivan Srinivasan, president, Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam, says they decided to make Vaishu a member as she has done significant work. “She has been acting in two serials and you have to recognise talent. TG people have made a mark in all industries, so why not acting?” he says.