Fashion sans boundaries
Costume designer Abeel Robin is truly the jack of all trades.
The front door of the apartment was ajar. Chupke Chupke Raat Din…. was flowing out in Ghulam Ali’s magical voice. “I’m here, please come in,” Abeel Robin calls out. A mannequin sporting a green and red outfit stands welcoming in the living room. The windows and shelves are filled with bangles, reminding of a shop in the Hyderabad’s Choodi Bazaar. A smiling Abeel greets you with a handshake. Settling down for a conversation, he switches off the song and says, “Ghulam Ali is my Lord. He always sings in the background as I engage in my activities.” Abeel’s activities can’t be described in one breath. A costume designer, makeup artist, choreographer, graphic designer, photographer, ghazal singer, music composer and an actor, this transgender artist is an all-rounder.
“It’s all God’s grace. That I am blessed with so many talents and the power of both man and woman are all God’s will. It’s not arrogance, but I am proud of what I am,” he says, adding that he wouldn’t want to be known as a member of any community. “I am happy to be addressed as a human being. Being a person who wants to live differently, I am happy that I am different from everyone else. In Kerala, words like queer and transgender have been recognised only in the recent times. Acceptance is something we too need to strive hard for.
People will laugh at us at first, but as they get used to our presence everywhere, they will have no choice but accept us.” A popular name in fashion industry, Abeel calls himself a ‘complete fashion designer’. “There are not many who handle all aspects of fashion designing without even an assistant. I offer a complete package – costumes, makeup, hair, accessories, styling and photography,” he says. Abeel also has to his credit two editions of the fashion show Monsoon Night, which he organised single-handedly. “The costumes included beach wear and nightwear. My collections were noticed, but it turned out to be controversial with the media reporting that there was ‘nude dance’ happening. It hurt me that I wasn’t getting enough support. But now, with Mayaanadhi, it has all changed. Appreciations are pouring in and I am glad to be part of such a great movie. It’s not every day you see people beaming at you at a shopping mall. Thanks to director Aashiq Abu and production controller Benny Kattappana for giving me the chance,” he smiles.
Childhood has been tough for the small town boy from Kannamaly who was ridiculed for his girlish mannerisms. As he grew up, Abeel learnt to ignore prying eyes and jibes. When he confided to his motherwhat he felt, she understood her son and accepted his identity. “Since then, Amma was my only friend and confidante. I never left her side till the day she died. When she was bedridden, it was I who took care of her. She died in my arms after blessing me,” he recalls. His studio in Thoppumpady and his current YouTube channel are both named Monica Fashion Studio, after her. As a tribute to his dad Abel, he added his name to his, tweaking it a bit.
Not many were aware that Abeel was a very promising singer during his younger days till he uploaded on social media a video of a Christian devotional song he penned, composed and lent voice to. Laughing, he says, “I was trained in Carnatic music for seven years under Yesudas’ guru Ramankutty Bhagavathar, and later in Hindustani music for two years. Back then, I used to sing in choirs and youth festivals and win prizes. Funnily, due to my female voice, I had to sing with the girls in the choral group. Though I loved their company, I hated my voice and tried all means to change it. I gargled with hot water every morning for months and it started showing results. I’m sure that if I hadn’t tried that hard, it would have been a female voice.”
The new voice helped his music career. A ghazal singer at many Mumbai-based troupes, Abeel took part in concerts, worked on devotional songs, music albums, sang track for big names like Sujatha, Minmini, Biju Narayanan, Markose and Kester. He was working as a graphic designer when his pastime activity — designing costumes on paper — was noticed by his colleagues, who encouraged him to pursue it seriously. Abeel was happy to give it a try and soon joined as an assistant to Sanjana Jon. It has been seven years and now, Abeel is a known name in film and fashion fraternity. He also shares his talents through makeup seminars, workshops and YouTube tutorials.
“At seminars and workshops, people initially laugh seeing me. But once I start demonstrating, I can see their expressions changing from contempt to admiration. Getting a first-hand experience of acceptance is truly amazing,” he says. Abeel has a dream — to be known globally as a complete fashion designer. “I am sure I will, because my parents’ blessings are with me.” Before signing off, he finishes the interrupted ‘Chupke Chupke’, this time, in his heavenly voice.