Sexual liberation was a crucial part of my healing process. In addition to therapy and the use of sex toys, I developed a more potent form of sexual self-care by using journaling prompts and exercises.

The reclamation of Silk Smitha's on-screen presence in our journey to sexual liberation must also involve interrogating the image of female sexuality manufactured by an industry dominated by cishet men.

I was too stressed to appreciate that this wedding was celebrating the union of two people. To me the wedding was nothing more than a room filled with people, waiting to make audible judgements about the state of my physical appearance.

Developing meaningful strategies to disrupt colonial mentality and infrastructures, particularly around patriarchal violence in our communities, requires an ongoing commitment to unlearning and relearning.

I grew up learning about sex from the books I read and the hushed conversations that followed in school later. I say sex and not intimacy, but there’s only so much intimacy featured within media and pop culture. Intimacy comes from people - and the people around me seemed to have no idea what it meant.

"There is a scene in Kadhalan where Nagma's character has her hymen checked," my friend chimed in as I stared back at her with utter disbelief. "It really confused me when I was younger. I grew up believing a doctor could tell if I was a virgin or not," she continued.