Karpaga is an actress who made her debut in a Tamil movie called Paal. She is the first trans person ever in India to perform a leading role in a mainstream movie.[1][2]
Karpaga was born in a middle-class family of Erode in western Tamil Nadu, an only child, and left home at 17 for Mumbai. Karpaga worked at a beauty parlour as a beautician after finishing schooling. After returning to her family, five years later, her family was shattered but eventually accepted her.[3][4]
Historically, transgender people have been shown in a poor light in Indian movies.[5] Karpaga acts as an intellectual woman who has difficulty in revealing her identity to her lover.[5] The film stresses the need for families to accept transgender people.[5][6]