Androgyny and Female Impersonation in India - Nari Bhav

Contents Foreword 11 Introduction 17 Sri Guru Pranarna 21 Part I: Concepts and Forms - Ardhanariswara 45 Unacceptability of Transgender Heroes in Indian Classics 63 The Soul in Between: Gender, Androgyny and Beyond in Bhakti Poetry- The Example of the Karnataka Veerashaiva Tradition 71 Rabindranath Tagore and the androgynous Identity 83 Male Ranis is Bengali Jatra 93 Female Impersonators or Human Counterparts of Ardhanariswaras-Documenting Chena Kintu ajana 115 Gurmar Gaan or Ojha Naach: Transcending Gender 127 The Jogtas of Yellamma: Goddess of Soundatti 137 Bhikhari Thakur and Bidesiya 147 Body, Gesture and Fashioning of the Self: Satish Alekar's Begum Barve as a Case Study 157 Eunuch Festival of Aravan 167 Confession of Nihilistic Nights 173 Nirvanam: the Evolving Story 185 In Nakha We can Outshine Women, But Can't Give Birth: Kothis in Provincial Cities of Western India 191 Chitrangada: A Modern Myth 205 Chitrangada: A Story of Androgyny and Desire 229 Well done, Girl!' Female Impersonation in Hindi! Cinema 239 Female Impersonator on the Internet: Notes for queer Male Desire 251 Part II: Performers Chapal Rani/chapal Bhaduri: On and off-stage 283 The Actor's Body is a Screen': An Interview with Kathakali Exponent Margi Vijayakumar on Female Impersonation 303 The Man Who Beguiles Women: Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma and the Art of Female Impersonation 321 Female Impersonation in Andhranatyam-A Conversation with Kalakrishna 331 Acknowledgement 339 Contributors 340 Selected Bibliography 343