I am Revathi, I am resilience

Writer and activist A Revathi, the central figure of the documentary I am Revathi, opens up about her life, her identity and society's apathy towards trans existence

- THREYAMBAKA A B

ON a quiet evening at the 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), the screen at Kairali Theatre came alive with a voice that refused to be silenced, a personhood that resisted invisibilisation.

"I am Revathi", the protagonist proudly declares in P Abhijith's documentary—it has English subtitles—of the same name. At first glance, it is just an ordinary statement. However, as the story unfolds, these words swell with defiance, vulnerability, and dignity—the weight of a lifetime carried in a single line.

For A Revathi, a transwoman from Tamil Nadu, who has weathered rejection, violence, and endless questions on her existence, the act of naming herself is a matter of survival. Sitting down with TMS, she says: "When I say I am Revathi, I am telling the world that I exist. They cannot erase me, no matter how hard they try."

The documentary captures her journey with a rawness that lingers long after the credits roll. But Revathi insists this is not just a film about her—it is a mirror held up to society. "People think they know us, but they only know the stereotypes. My story is not only mine—it is the story of thousands who are never heard."