I MISS KOOVAGAM

Every April in the Tamil Nadu village of Koovagam, a hijra (eunuch) festival takes place based on the folktale of Aravan, a MAHABHARATA hero, marrying a female avatar of Krishna the day before his death. The two-day festival is preceded by a hijra beauty contest in nearby Vellupuram. I MISS KOOVAGAM details some hijra life, the beauty contest, and the festival, with some semi-assistance by a sexologist and a still photographer.

  • Lyle Pearson
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 23, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Tamil
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lyle Pearson

"Lyle Pearson, with a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), and has taught film at Western Washington University in Bellingham WA and lectured at the University of Washington in Seattle. Some of his films are available through Canyon Cinema and one, LACKLUSTER, has been presented at the Foothill College Film Festival. He has published in FILM QUARTERLY, SIGHT AND SOUND, INTERNATIONAL FILM GUIDE, FILMFARE, YOUTH TIMES, MANSHOTS, THE BETTY PAGES and ASIAN CINEMA. He has lived in India for seven years.

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