A public screening of the acclaimed documentary ‘Is it too much to ask?’ was screened at the Asian College of Journalism at an event organized by the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, ACJ.

The film follows two transwomen, Living Smile Vidya and Glady, as they struggle to find a house to rent in Chennai. Directed by Leena Manimekalai, the documentary puts into focus the social stigma transgender persons have to face in every aspect of their lives, making even survival a feat.

The screening was accompanied by an interactive session with Living Smile Vidya, Gee Semmalar and lawyer Kiruba Munusamy, where issues such as trans rights, gender identity and The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 were discussed.

Living Smile Vidya is a theatre practitioner whose autobiography ‘I am Vidya’ was published in Tamil and translated in seven languages. An award-winning Kannada documentary ‘Naanu Avanalla…Avalu’ was based on the same.

Gee Semmalar is a theatre practitioner, independent activist and journalist who has previously written for Scroll, OPEN Magazine and more.

Kiruba Munuswamy is a Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist who deals primarily with cases of trans rights, caste-based atrocities and women’s rights. Recently, she represented Prithika Yashini, who went on to become the first transgender police official in Tamil Nadu.