Nalini Jameela

Nalini Jameela (born 18 August 1954) is an Indian best selling author, sex worker activist and former sex worker from Thrissur, Kerala. She is the author of the books The Autobiography of a Sex-worker and Romantic Encounters of a Sex Worker (2018). She is the coordinator of the Sex Workers Forum of Kerala (SWFK) and is a member of five non-governmental organisations (NGO). She received Special Jury mention at the 51st Kerala State Film Awards for costume design for her work in the film, Bharatha Puzha (film).

Early life Nalini Jameela was born She worked in the fields planting and harvesting crops until her husband died of cancer when she was aged 24. This left her with no means of supporting her two young children. A sex worker (Autobiography of a Sex Worker) with the aid of sex work activist I. Gopinath. Originally written in Malayalam, the book was translated to English in 2007 by J. Devika, and into French the following year by Sophie Bastide-Foltz. The book created massive movements in society, and led to many debates and controversies in Kerala. was published. The book was translated into English by Reshma Bharadwaj, telling of the relationships she developed with her clients.

In 2001 she became coordinator of the Sex Workers Forum of Kerala (SWFK), Under her leadership the SWFK held protest marches to draw attention to the plight of street-based sex workers.

Jameela is a member of the five non-governmental organisations (NGO). At the fourth meeting of the AIDS Counselling Program in Bengaluru, she called on the government not just to distribute condoms, but to provide an education to sex workers and their children.

Documentary Sanjeev Sivan, younger brother of noted film director Santosh Sivan, made a 28-minute documentary film, Sex, Lies and a Book, in 2013 about Jameela's life. The documentary was a joint venture of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Public Service Broadcasting Trust. Jameela appeared in the film.