A drag gig paying tribute to Rekha aims to question gender norms

Rekha

Be it her extravagant looks in Khoon Bhari Maang or her grace in Umrao Jaan, actor Rekha has always been a name associated with fierce confidence. Combined with her iconic looks, she has always been an idol for the LGBTQ community. And A Night of 1,000 Rekhas aims to pay tribute to the star with performances by Sushant Divgikar in his drag avatar of Ko-He-Nur, and transgender artistes Navya Singh and Shivali Chhetri.

Sushant Divgikar

"Rekha is the only person I have been star-struck by. She's a demigod, and especially so for the gay community as she has pushed the envelope since the '80s. Look at her costumes, they were so fabulous! Most transgenders do not get the right opportunities in any field. We need to include them in mainstream Indian entertainment. Even in a TV show with a transgender as the lead character, the role is played by a female actor, which is ridiculous. As a result, we feel that a Rekha tribute, which will have songs in Hindi, makes for a great platform for transgender artistes," says Divgikar.

While he will sing songs and dance as well (the list includes all-time hits such as In Aankhon ki Masti, Kaisi Paheli, Pardesia and Pyar Do Pyar Lo), Singh and Chhetri will present dance performances only. The executive director of the five-star where the show will be held, Keshav Suri, says, "We have worked hard to get the biggest names in the business on our stage. And, I am proud to say that we have transformed into a performance hub for the talented yet ignored sections of the society. And this time, with transgender artistes and drag queens paying tribute to one of Bollywood's biggest stars, we are trying to question society's norms on gender. I am a huge fan of Rekha and her body of work and this is our ode to the diva."

Navya Singh and Shivali Chhetri

Chhetri says, "Rekha is a legend. She is my inspiration. I love the way she is in her movie as well as in life. The way she expresses each and every word of the lyrics of her songs through her eyes and expressions is incomparable. I hope more people give us the opportunity to perform in the mainstream and feel that we are a part of the larger society."

Singh, too, considers the actor to be her idol and tells us that transwomen need more avenues in Bollywood and the entertainment industry to do justice to their talent. "We are as human as anyone else. We wish everyone accepts us with open arms," she signs off.

ON Today, 10 pm onwards
AT Kitty Su, The Lalit, Andheri East.
Call 9004653635
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