Nearly two-and-a-half decades ago, the film Fire (1998), which explored the relationship between two women, faced severe backlash from conservative quarters, leading to attacks on cinema houses showcasing the film. Sridhar Rangayan, the mind behind the Kashish Pride Film Festival, reflects on such past controversies as the festival enters its 15th iteration. This year’s lineup includes a much-anticipated Fireside chat featuring the director of Fire, Deepa Mehta, and actor Nandita Das. This special event is set to take place on May 18th at Mumbai’s Liberty Cinema from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
South Asia’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, Kashish Pride Film Festival—formerly known as Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival—holds its five-day event annually in Mumbai. Organized by the Kashish Arts Foundation, this year’s festival will screen an impressive selection of 133 films from 46 countries. “In November last year, we changed the festival’s name to be more inclusive and resonate with individuals beyond the LGBTQA+ community. The term ‘pride’ embodies something that everyone can partake in. Additionally, there are plans for Kashish to branch out to cities other than Mumbai in the future,” explains Sridhar.
Recalling the festival’s history, which began a year after the landmark judgment by the Delhi High Court in 2009, decriminalizing consensual same-sex relationships, Sridhar has observed a significant increase in patrons and partners. “Initially, cinema owners were hesitant given their past experiences, like with Fire. However, the festival managed to launch its first edition at PVR Cinemas in Juhu. Since 2014, we’ve been hosting at Liberty Cinemas, which has a seating capacity of 1,200, and we fill every seat,” he recalls. The initial years attracted collaborators mainly involved in community work—such as condom manufacturers and UNDP—but the repeal of Section 377 in 2018 brought a remarkable turnaround, swelling the number of financial partners.
The festival this year is themed ‘Unfurl Your Pride’ and will take place from May 15 to 19 at various venues, including Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay, and Cinepolis in Andheri West. “With around 300 submissions, our selection team comprises 10 individuals from the LGBTQ+ community and film industry. They rigorously preview every submission, earmarking some for competition, which then undergo review by our jury,” says Sridhar. The panel includes distinguished names such as director Kiran Rao and actors Varun Sobti and Sonali Kulkarni for narratives, with filmmakers Kavita Bahl, Pushpendra Singh, and Shilpi Gulati forming the documentary jury.
Opening the festival is the French film Spirit of Ecstasy, which tells the tale of a gender-questioning stock-market trader. The festival concludes with the American film Mutt, tracking the emotional journey of a trans man over a day in New York City. Among the features is the screening of I Am Sirat, helmed by Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja, depicting the life of a transgender woman.
The festivities also include performances on the opening night—with comedian Varun Grover and a kathak-lavani fusion by Aditi Bhagwat—and a closing-night LGBTQA+ led dance by Colour Positive. The price for admission starts at ₹600, available on insider.in.
Capturing the essence and excitement surrounding the nation’s largest events and festivals, this announcement promises to showcase unseen narratives and a chance for diverse audiences to engage with the vibrant LGBTQA+ community.
