Scenes 9. Almass Badat on the transgender community in India and the culture of South Asian creativity
Sep 27, 2022
Almass Badat, a multidisciplinary creative known for her work with Netflix and the BBC, dives deep into the complexities of the transgender community in India. She shares insights from her documentary on the hijra community and discusses her journey of self-discovery in India, confronting family expectations and embracing her queer identity. Almass also highlights the importance of creativity through travel and her innovative podcast, 'What Is This Behaviour?' This conversation is a celebration of gender fluidity and the vibrant South Asian cultural scene.
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Flow From Video To Sound
- Almass discovered video editing by losing track of time and entering a creative flow that felt like being in a vortex.
- That visual practice opened a path into sound, DJing, producing and podcasting, expanding her creative world.
Making Hedra's Hustle In Bangalore
- Almass directed Hedra's Hustle exploring the hijra community's household hierarchies and livelihoods in Bangalore.
- The film probes how ostracised hijra are simultaneously desired financially through sex work and ritual roles.
Diaspora Myths Challenged By Return Visits
- Almass found India's contemporary queer scenes challenge diaspora assumptions about conservatism.
- Direct engagement demystified inherited preconceptions and helped her build chosen family and belonging.
