Soothradharan (2001)

Dark and disturbing, this socially relevant saga boldly depicts the struggles and exploitation faced by women who are sold into prostitution. Ramesan (Dileep) who supports his five member family by selling pickles and other eatables, reaches Pandavapuram desperately in search of his friend Leelakrishnan (Salim Kumar), who acts as a transgender (hijada) to eke out a living. He is shocked to find conditions in Pandavapuram to be truly stark and dreary. Rabima Bindu Panicker who runs a brothel gives him shelter. Seemingly oblivious to the hopelessness of her situation, Sivani (Meera Jasmin) a teenage girl lives with Rabima and Ranima (Chitra) She falls in love with Ramesan. Bharathiyakka, an old inmate of the whorehouse fills her wallet with money earned by selling virgins to infamous pimps. She persuades Rabima to sell Sivani to a rich and pompous Zamindar (Mansoor Ali khan). Trapped between dreams of hard cash for sustenance and her affection for Sivani, Rabima is trying to save the lives of prostitutes by getting as much money as she can through this ordeal. Sivani's aspirations bite the dust leaving her emotionally shattered, when Rabima decides to sell her. Is her fate really sealed? Must she endure the trauma of being sold into prostitution? What will happen to the love story between Sivani and Ramesan?