Bigg Boss Tamil 5: Namitha Marimuthu shares emotional story of her ordeals for being a transwoman

In the recently started Bigg Boss Tamil 5, actor-model and contestant Namitha Marimuthu spoke about the ordeals she was put through by her friends, family, and society for being a transwoman. She said this during the luxury budget task titled Oru Kadhai Sollatuma on Day 4 of the reality show.

Namitha started the task by narrating the torments she had to face when she started to realise and embrace her gender identity. "Since the age of 10, I had the desire to present myself beautifully. I studied well and scored 900-odd marks in 10th grade, and shortly later I slowly began to realise some physical changes in me. My breasts started growing bigger and my parents asked my uncle, who was a doctor, to surgically remove my breasts. However, within three months, my breasts started to grow again."

Namitha then narrated a traumatic event when she was physically abused by her relatives for dressing up as a girl for a family function. "In fact, I had tried to flee from my house four times on various occasions, but I had to come back fearing for safety."

Namitha was also tormented for attended a function in the transgender community. "I wore my mother’s saree and danced in that function, and I was beaten and threatened by my parents when I reached home. My parents, in fact, threatened to kill me. It was the people around them who motivated them to threaten me," shared Namitha. She was later forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital for over 3 months. "Even the police complaint that I filed was manipulated," she said.

She was then produced before the court. "I had to prove my legal age." The verdict came in favour of Namitha, and it was after this point that she got the right to lead the life she desired.

Namitha also touched upon how casteism and communal pride aids in the persecution of queer individuals. Later, after much struggle, Namitha helped her parents understand her gender identity and to come to terms with it. "I transformed into a woman and I got a follow-up surgery as well," she reveals. She then sold her ancestral property to get a new house, through which she decided to help other transgender individuals.

Things turned up for Namitha after she participated in a transgender beauty pageant called Miss Koovagam, in which she got prizes from actors Radikaa and Sarathkumar. "I have acted in more than 25 films till now. I took part in many competitions like Miss Chennai and Miss Bangalore," said the model, who has won over 30 sashes and 15 crowns, and has visited over 35 countries. She also won the Miss Trans Star International 2020, which was held in Spain. "I was then made the director and founder of Miss Trans Star India, and it became my job to spot new talents among the transgender community in India."

Namitha also highlighted the misconceptions that people have about trans people. "There's a notion that most transgenders either beg or work as sex workers. However, this is all just misconceptions and none of them are the reasons behind it," said Namitha, who also elucidated the importance of education for queer people. "Most trans people undergo the transformation during the most important stage of education. It is during that time when they need the maximum support," she said. Namitha also urged parents of LGBTQIA+ children to understand them and help them complete their education. "We will then take care of our lives. Society keeps putting a negative shade on transgenders. We need to change that. I will keep questioning all of you till my stay for 106 days in this house," said Namitha.

Namitha concluded her speech by singing a song that narrated the sufferings of transgenders. The speech made the contestants overwhelmed by emotion and they gave a standing ovation to Namitha.