Always on
This project successfully funded on 3rd February 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Body of Our Own Crowdfunder
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
First target reached!
Once we reach £8,200, we'll stretch to £15,000 - allowing us to redistribute £5,000 ...
Aim
To complete post-production on a short documentary celebrating Hijra resilience, transgender visibility, and South Asian sisterhood.
INTRODUCTION
Body of Our Own immerses audiences in a hyper-connected Hijra community, where social media is a lifeline and a stage. Following MOMO, JANNAT, and NESHI from 2019–2025 in South Asia, the film captures the intersecting crises of religion, identity, family, and survival. Their origins remain their anchor, yet their journeys reach across borders, driven by necessity, aspiration, and the desire for self- determination.
FUNDRAISING GOAL
We are aiming to raise £8,200 to bring Body of Our Own to its final, polished form and to then support the community that made this film possible.
£8,200 will cover post-production costs, including:
- Graphic design (titles & credits)
- Colour grading
- Sound design and cleanup
- Soundtrack licensing and/or original composition
- Quality control pass
- Final 5.1 cinema mix with stereo fold-down
- Film Festival submissions
Once we hit our target of £8,200 we will stretch our target to £13,200 to fundraise £5,000 more which will be divided between our three protagonists and two charity collaborators evenly.
- £1000 each to our three protagonists (Momo, Jannat, and Neshi) and,
- £1000 each to our two collaborating Hijra-led charities (Somporker Noya Setu and Bandhu Social Welfare Society), to continue their great work.
We are also open to discussing if any of these elements can be contributed in kind to the project. For offers or enquiries, please reach out at the emails below in the contact section.
CHARACTERS
MOMO – The Guru Ma and viral dancer
Momo is a force of nature: fearless, charismatic, and irreverent. TikTok fame and live performances allow her to reclaim her body, her voice, and her authority, while balancing loyalty to her chosen family and complex relationships with her estranged parents.
JANNAT – The dreamer and survivor
Sensitive yet resilient, Jannat escapes the abusive power of a previous lover to build a life. She navigates sex work, artistry, and love with her partner Sarvesh. She dreams of independence, adoption, and financial security. Her story is one of ambition tempered by survival and longing.
NESHI – The gentle renegade
Neshi’s path is one of escape and reinvention. Her lack of freedom as she faces abuse from her Guru Ma intensifies as she moves across South Asia. Waiting for a time when she has autonomy by running a Hijra-led parlour in Kolkata, or reshaping her life via social media.
TEAM
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Anita Chhiba, a New Zealand–born, London-based creative director and founder of Diet Paratha leads a global South Asian creative platform and agency championing authentic representation through projects with brands like Burberry, Adidas, and Tate Modern.
DIRECTORS:
Rahemur Rahman is a London-born artist, designer, filmmaker, and lecturer whose work merges South Asian heritage, queer identity, and craft innovation, earning recognition from the British Fashion Council and the British Bangladeshi Fashion Council for his impact on culture and design.
Lily Vetch is a London-based filmmaker, photographer, and producer exploring gender, identity, and community through global documentary projects, collaborations with brands like i-D and Mastercard, and her independent company, Otto Pictures.
DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT
Rahemur Rahman:
“This film began as a personal reckoning: how to rebuild identity after coming out and losing family. These women taught me to live fiercely, authentically and unapologetically myself. I hope audiences are moved to see both the beauty and fragility of Hijra lives.”
Lily Vetch:
“Before meeting the Hijra community, we were told it was inaccessible, even dangerous. Yet, these women welcomed us with openness, humor, and dignity. They taught us to confront prejudice while celebrating life’s absurdity and joy."
WHY NOW?
As global gender rights face increasing attacks, the Hijra community embodies the intersection of resilience and systemic oppression. Despite legal recognition in South Asia, colonial-era homophobic and transphobic laws and social stigma continue to threaten survival. By amplifying these voices, Body of Our Own captures the urgency and beauty of living authentically in the face of adversity, inspiring audiences worldwide to witness, empathise, and reflect.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The film engages directly with Somporker Noya Setu and Bandhu Social Welfare Society who are both Hijra activists and organisations. Private community screenings across South Asia aim to raise visibility, celebrate culture, and empower Hijra voices against systemic erasure.
CONTACT
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made