Dev Patel's 'Monkey Man' talks about Hijra Community

Dev Patel, who made his directorial debut with "Monkey Man," discussed the inclusion of the "hijra community" in his film. In an interview with Variety, Patel addressed the significance of representing "the third gender in India." "Monkey Man" features a group of trans and gender-nonconforming characters who join the protagonist, Kid, portrayed by Patel, in his fight against India's elite.

"For me, this is an anthem for the underdogs, the voiceless, and the marginalized. Together, they wage this war for the good and the just, and for me, I really wanted to include the hijra community, the third gender in India. We should be fighting for each other, not against each other," he said.

Vipin Sharma, who portrays the trans woman Alpha in the film, attended a screening for the trans community and expressed gratitude for their positive reception. "I was almost in tears when they said they loved it, they loved the representation, and they were very happy about it. That just touched my heart," Sharma said.

During the Los Angeles premiere, Patel shared his initial reluctance about directing the film, admitting he became "a reluctant writer and then a sort of reluctant director" after receiving encouragement from collaborator Neill Blomkamp to helm the project himself due to his personal attachment to the material.

"Monkey Man," written, directed, produced, and starring Patel, is a Universal action thriller inspired by the legend of Hanuman. The story follows a young man on a quest to seek justice for his mother's death, ultimately becoming a defender of the downtrodden. The film, featuring Patel, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sikander Kher, Makarand Deshpande, Pitobash, and Vipin Sharma, premiered in theaters on April 5. It is produced by an ensemble including Dev Patel, Jomon Thomas, Jordan Peele, and others.