Thailand to turn out transsexual boxer film

Thailand's kickboxing sensation fought her way to a sex change

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Following the success of last year's "Iron Ladies," a film about a transvestite volleyball team, a Thai production company plans to make a film about a transsexual Thai kickboxing sensation.

Thai record firm GMM Grammy Plc and Singapore-based Spicy Apple Films will begin co-production of "Beautiful Boxer" in mid 2002, Grammy said in a statement received by Reuters on Wednesday.

The action drama will be based on the real-life story of 20-year-old transsexual Parinya Charoenphol, who fought since the age of 12 to earn money for his sex change operation.

"Believing he's a girl trapped in a boy's body since childhood, Parinya...sets out to master the most masculine and lethal sport of Thai boxing to achieve his ultimate goal of total femininity," the statement said.

The shooting will be done in Thailand, Japan and Singapore with Thai, English and Japanese dialogue.

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Ekachai Uekrongtham, a Bangkok born Thai who founded Singapore-based theatre company ACTION Theatre, will be the producer and director of the film.

"Satree Lek" or "Iron Ladies" was the second biggest grossing domestic film in Thai cinematic history and has played to packed houses in Asia, Reuters reports.

The film is based on the true story of a transvestite volleyball team from northern Thailand that sprang from obscurity to win the 1996 men's national volleyball championship.

The movie started the first U.S. national run by a Thai film in about 30 cities, including New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in September.