Following close on the heels of the theatrical release of feature filmsEvening ShadowsandEk Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, it is now the turn of city’s iconic festival Kala Ghoda Arts Festival to fly the rainbow flag. In its 20 year, this important festival in Mumbai has several LGBTQ focused events.
First up, on February 5 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, is the film screening of multiple award winning filmEvening Shadowsalongwith 5 LGBTQ short films curated by KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival under their program ‘Best of KASHISH’. This event to be held 12 noon to 4.30pm will also feature interaction with director Sridhar Rangayan, writer Saagar Gupta and actors Mona Ambegaonkar & Devansh Doshi.
On February 9 at David Sassoon Library Garden, there are 3 events from 6.30pm to 10.00pm all focused on LGBTQ topics – with Justice Chandrachud speaking about ‘And Justice For More – Section 377’; followed by Salil Tripathi in conversation with Parmesh Shahani, and Sridhar Rangayan about ‘Queer Scapes: The Platforms And The Frames’; and then ‘Queer Scapes: The Written Word’ with Shobhna Kumar leading a discussion with Raj Rao, Nandini Krishnan and Bindumadhav Khire on writing queer and more.
“It is a great time for opening up dialogues about LGBTQ lives and issues by reaching out to larger audiences. What better mainstream platform than Kala Ghoda Arts Festival which celebrates art & culture, and this year also is celebrating LGBTQ lives. KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is honoured to be collaborating with Kala Ghoda Arts Festival”, said Rangayan, festival director of KASHISH.
Earlier KASHISH had also collaborated with city’s premier film festival MAMI Mumbai Film festival to host a panel discussion of LGBTQ cinema featuring speakers Rajit Kapur, Onir, Vandana Kataria, Sridhar Rangayan and Rohini Ramnathan.
The city recently also celebrated Mumbai Pride month with a host of events across the city culminating in the biggest Pride March ever where more than 20,000 people marched exuberantly.