Untitled is part of 'In Transit', a double bill consisting 'Unspoken' and 'Untitled'.
The transgender person has both a biological identity and a social identity. While the biological seeks definitions in fine sub-categories, the social identity is largely omnibus. And mostly unhelpful. The identities in India have no exact match in the modern Western taxonomy of gender and sexual orientation, and are often at variance from Western ideas of sex and gender. The Indian parliament passed a bill supported by all political parties to ensure transgender people get benefits akin to other communities eligible for affirmative action privileges. In the implementation of the bill, all States are required to take steps to see that they get enrolment in schools and jobs in government institutions, besides protection from sexual harassment. While there are success stories of transgenders reported from here and there, it is clear that social prejudice and stigma will continue to come in the way for a very long time.
This play examines the complexity of the issue. It is the story of a success, against all odds, of Indira alias Indranil. It is also a story that ends in an almost predictable tragedy. On the other hand, the fate of Yamuna, the mother, can too easily be stereotyped. It should be entirely possible for her to be also seen as one requiring sympathy – first not wanting a child, then finding it is a girl child, and then finding that she is not really a girl.