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Shyam Selvadurai
Shyam Selvadurai is the author of the novel Drôle de garçon. His writing focuses on identity and the experience of growing up in Sri Lanka.
Funny Boy
Synopsis
Arjie, the second son in a privileged Sri Lankan family, prefers playing with his female cousins to traditional boyish games. When his parents discover his innocent pastimes, Arjie is forced to confront the rigid expectations of the adult world. As he navigates his burgeoning sexuality and the violent Tamil-Sinhalese conflicts tearing his homeland apart, Arjie struggles to understand his own unique identity.
Genres
Characters
ArjieProtagonist
Frequently asked questions
Is Funny Boy based on a true story?
Shyam Selvadurai drew heavily on his own experiences growing up gay in Sri Lanka during the escalating ethnic tensions of the 1970s and early 1980s to write Funny Boy. While the characters and specific events are fictionalized, the social and political backdrop is historically accurate.
Does Funny Boy have a film adaptation?
Funny Boy was adapted into a film directed by Deepa Mehta, released in 2020. The movie was Canada's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
How does Funny Boy relate to Shyam Selvadurai's other works?
Funny Boy is Selvadurai's debut novel and established his literary voice exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and cultural conflict within the Sri Lankan diaspora. His subsequent novels continue to delve into similar territory, often featuring characters navigating complex personal and political landscapes.