Kashish: Subaltern Image Fest

April will experience yet another Queer Film Festival, this time it's Kashish in Beautiful Bombay. Or as some call it the Magical, Mad, Much-maligned, Metropolis of Mumbai. It's the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2010 : Kashish.

More power to cultural diversity, is what I've always said.

Films from India: documentaries, features, shorts as well as from around the world will be exhibited, and there's to be seminars, exhibitions and other stuff as well.

Manoj Khiyani who designed the logo has some interesting thoughts to share about the logo's symbolism -

Red - The color of Love, Passion & Excellence. The Brighter Warmer side of Gay/Lesbian/Trans. people.

Why Butterfly ? - In its lifecycle, a butterfly goes through tremendous changes. It cocoons itself and finally comes-out with great struggle. Once out, it sees the brighter side of life with lovely shades of its wings. The same applies to many of us from the LGBT Community.

Different butterflies with Rainbow shade - represent different people from LGBT community, just like no two fingers are alike.

How does it relate to Kashish - Kashish means attraction. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers. The theme goes well with the name too. Love of everything thats beautiful.

Why no LGBT logos? - circle arrows or M-F signs or rainbow flag. We are all one. Why show m2m, f2f or why divide between gay or lesbians etc. We have shown all 7 colors as different butterflies. To Each its own.

How could this theme be okay?  Its bright, it's relevant, it speaks for itself. It doesn't have any potential to create problems from various anti-gay or religious groups.

The theme shows gardens emerging, butterflies flying high.. happy n gay.. as the country slowly embraces LGBT Community with its acceptance and understanding. The color of love - red adds warmth. The white text shows peaceful acceptance to the Kashish between same sex people.

The festival promises to be one of note, backed as it is by Indias's pioneering Queer rights activist organisation HumsafarTrust and has Solaris Pictures - producer of several of India's Queer films as co-organiser.

If you're in Mumbai in the last week of April, get to the festival, it is bound to be an educational experience, and one that any really modern, secular [or pseudo-secular]  liberal Indian shouldn't miss!

The dates April 22 to 25. 
Here's a link for more information