Kashish happened to Mumbai again

The Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is where queer Dombivli meets kothi Kandivli meets homo Kamothe meets femme Kemps Corner. Film festivals are a great leveller, they attract people of diverse interests and several ethnicities. Kashish is no different.

It is that time of the year when Kamlesh from Govandi shines as Kam, and Sumitra Devi from Bhiwandi becomes Sam. Kashish is a place where one feels liberated from the forces that hold one down. Our wings spread, our spirits free, we perch at Liberty Cinema for Kashish.

Kitti kitti zhala! Vagina Monologues got my friend Gazal Dhaliwal, who was born male and is now the beautiful-est woman I know, as a part of the crew. Thus marking the inclusion of trans rights in the feminist movement. Sisak, a silent film, won itself fantastic reviews. This film is close to me because it stars Jitin Gulati, the poor actor who always needs to come out as ‘straight’ at LGBT events, has proven a lucky mascot for LGBT-themed films. The previous film he starred in, at the debut edition of Kashish, Amen, won the best short film prize. It’s close to me, because it’s a film based on my life, in which Jitin plays the character of my reel life (somewhat-jilted) lover.

The films toh are good but we don’t go to these festivals to watch only films. Godrej-chi badi aai, corporate kothi bai, maazhi maithrin, Parmesh Shahani was there with his rang-birangi dresses that he designed himself. But if you think he is all dress and nothing more, you are toh completely wrong only. He has upped the ante for LGBTQ rights in the corporate space. Much of this credit also goes to Nisaba Godrej, one of the few corporate persons who is truly committed to the cause.

Kashish showcases some of the best talent, and Sushant Divgikar, RJ Malishka and RJ Rohini steal the show every time as hosts. Sushant toh is from the community, he is family. He is everything gay and hot and what else and what not. I can comfortably thank the straight-like-a-gannah, Rohini and Malishka, the damsels of radio, who host the event as one of us.

If you missed Kashish this year, add it to your list of must-attend events for next year. Kashish-la yaa, chitrapat bagha, majaa kara!

(Activist Harish Iyer shares his entertaining adventures through Mumbai’s landscape)

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