Bodies Of Desire
Using Varsha's anthology by the same name, Bodies of Desire is a film that captures four sets of lovers amid passion; to create a portrait of tender intimacy, of longing, of discovery, of desire, of embrace and care, of profound companionship. The film was one of the Five Films For Freedom 2021.
The film is being developed into a narrative feature.
Writer, Director, Voice, Co-Producer - Varsha Panikar | Length: 3.47 min | Language: English
Premiere: Nowness Asia | September 2020
Platforms: Nowness Asia, Nowness, Director's Library, Otherness Archive, GiF, BFI Player
Awards:
Rio Festival De Cinema LGBTQIA+ 2022 - Best Int'l Short, Special Festival Award Festival Jury
24fps International Short Film Festival - Honourable Mention
Best Music Video - Global Indian Film Festival 2021
Notable Festivals: BFI Flare London LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2021 | Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival 2021 | Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ FIlm Festival 2021 | Berlin Commercial 2020 | Directors Notes - 2022 | Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne - 2021 | Reel Desires Chennai International Film Festival 2020 | Toronto Queer Film Festival 2021 | 10th International Video Poetry Festival 2021 | Zebra Poetry Film festival 2021 | Prairie Pride Film Festival - 2021 | Athens Fashion FIlm Festival 2021 | Fashion Film festival Milano - 2021 | Geelong Pride Film Festival 2021 | Thessalanoki Queer Arts Festival 2021 | Last Frame Queer Womxn Fest 2020 | Queerz Get Loud - 2020 | Lustreifen Film Festival - 2020 | Melanin Pride Festival - 2020 | Seoul Int'l Pride Film Festival 2021 | Erotica Art & Film Festival Australia 2021 | Pan Eros Film Festival | Ivano-Frankivsk International Short Film Festival 4:3 | Reelout Queer Film Festival - 2021 | CLIT Film Festival 2022 | Black Cat International Film Awards 2022 | Festival del Cinema di Cefalù 2022
Words Of Pride - Launch Film
Here’s a sneak peek into the 11 socio-linguistic micro documentaries made with Disney + Star. #WordsOfPride is an advocacy initiative by Disney Star, created with language experts from the queer community. It is a glossary of terms to create a more inclusive world.
The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too. Visit www.wordsofpride.com to know more.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 59 sec | Language: Multi-lingual (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
Words Of Pride - Nandini's Story
Nandini takes us through her journey towards reclaiming the word 'Hijra' - that was used to abuse and oppress her. A story that emphasises the need for language that is rooted in respect and inclusivity - the very essence of #WordsOfPride. An advocacy initiative by Disney Star. It is a glossary of terms created with language experts from the queer community for a more inclusive society.
The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too. Visit www.wordsofpride.com to know more.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.16 mins | Language: Telugu (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
Words Of Pride - Kabir's Story
Kabir tells us about his journey of navigating society and language to grow into the person he is today. Checkout Kabir’s full story on https://wordsofpride.disneystar.com/e... The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.39 mins | Language: Hindi (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
Words Of Pride - Priyadarshini's Story
Watch Priyadarshini tell us about their relationship with language on their journey towards self, beyond the social conditioning surrounding gender and sexuality. Checkout Priyadarshani’s story on https://wordsofpride.disneystar.com/e... The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.44 mins | Language: Bengali (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
Words Of Pride - Maya's Story
Maya busts myths around Intersex identities and sheds light on the lack of awareness surrounding Intersex lives even amongst the educated. Checkout Maya’s story on https://wordsofpride.disneystar.com/e... The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.24 mins | Language: Tamil (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
Words Of Pride - Adam's Story
As India’s first trans pilot, refusing to give up on his dreams, Adam believes, one day, he will be able to fly as himself. Checkout Adam’s story on https://wordsofpride.disneystar.com/e... The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too.
Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.48 mins | Language: Malayalam (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles)
Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries
Premiere: 6th Sept 2023
Country: India
Platforms: Disney + Star Network
After So Long // बरसों बाद
A visual poetry set in Mumbai (India) and voiced by Simha and their parents to symbolise their connection with each other; a walkabout through time and memories from the point of view of the artist. As a queer BIPOC artist born in India and raised in the US, Simha felt a certain indignant disconnect from their own ancestry. Written in part-Hindi and part-English, the film serves as an homage to these roots and delves into themes of identity, belonging and mental-health.
Director - Varsha Panikar | Producer - Star Hopper | Length: 3.37 min | Language: Hindi & English (English & Hindi subtitles
Premiere: Nowness Asia | '22
Country: USA, India, Canada
Platforms: Nowness Asia, GiF, Homegrown
Festival:
ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival '22 | Trans Film Festival Stockholm '23 | Balkan Can Kino '23 | Black Cat Award International Film Festival '22 | Star Film Fest '22 | One Earth Awards '22 | Festival del Cinema di Cefalù '22
Screenings:
No Border X Nowness | Flying Chameleon Film Festival '22 | Simha Records x Queer Mango
Feminist Youth Leadership Programme
Here’s a sneak peek into our film, made in collaboration with Gender At Work (India) and UN Women (India).
Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 10.37 min | Language: Hindi & English (English subtitles)
Premiere: 1st June 2023
Country: USA, India, Canada
Platforms: UN Women (India) , Gender At Work (India) and
Premiere:Launch of knowledge products for the Feminist Youth Leadership Programme (FYLP) at We the People Hall, UN House, New Delhi.
False Promises
A spoken-word film, written and voiced by Varsha Panikar during the 2020 pandemic.
"I wrote this poem a year ago as an act of hope, a learning I would have liked to impart to my past-self, to perhaps, soften the blow of life’s turbulences and uncertainties. It's a reminder of human resilience, of our undying instinct for survival, of hope that has got us this far, that "we won’t just let it all fall apart" - Varsha.
A part of the narration that may resonate with its viewers and also manages to capture the essence of the film is — “I wonder, why no one told us that falling isn’t easy; like living, laughing and crying!” - Homegrown
Festivals:
Special Mention and Certificate of Excellence, 11th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2021 | New York City Independent Film Festival 2021
Sign Easy + GoogleDocs
Directed by Varsha Panikar | Client: Sign Easy | Agency: MAD
Gits - Spot
Directed by Varsha Panikar | Client: GITS | Agency : Togglehead Digital Pvt Ltd
The Three Renegades
The Remaking of A Memory - A workshop by Gob Squad Collective, as part of Starting Realities.
Curated by Kai Tuchmann and Anuja Ghosalkar
Supported by Goethe-Institut, Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai.
Concept & Edit - Varsha Panikar | Written and performed by Varsha Panikar, Gurleen Arora and Sophie Roy.
Doll Mortuary
Sitting in a corner of an old beat up shop, sit beautiful porcelain dolls willing to risk a drop. To be loved and taken off the shelves. These porcelain dolls are afraid to break, but willing to risk a crack that runs across their beautiful face. Weeks turn into months, months into years, the dolls now covered in dust and cobb webs are left with little to no hope as they continue to she sit in their corner of the shop.
Spoken Word film | Created for Bric-a-Brac, a finely curated workshop employing found footage and the politics of poor image. | UFO by Star Hopper
"As filmmaking paleontologists, we unearth forgotten fragments from the archives and use layered sound to transport audiences to the past. We trust our intuition, following serendipitous discoveries to piece together hidden narratives. unearthing skeletons and piecing them back together without full knowledge of what one is making. There is an element of serendipity, letting the images you are attracted to lead the way before working backwards to find a story.
As Courtney Stephen eloquently put it, there's a joy in discovering the potential of these forgotten fragments and piecing them back together into something meaningful." - Varsha.
Poetry, Voice, Edited by Varsha Panikar | Footage By AnamalousFilms | 'A Drowning Island' by Unheard Music Concepts.
The Timeless Charm of a Chance Encounter (Gurucharanji)
Asawari and I were doing research for a documentary in Shimla when we stumbled upon a tiny shop of vintage timepieces on the famous Mall Road. We met Gurucharan Singh, a friendly old Ghadiwala who fell in love with analogue clocks and opened his own shop. As we discussed time, we sensed a sadness in him, perhaps a reminder of what he had lost. We shot some footage of him and promised to return, but unfortunately missed our chance. Years later, we found the old footage and decided to put it together as a tribute to Gurucharanji and his love for clocks.
Returning to the themes of chance encounters, surreal connections, and serendipity, 'The Timeless Charm of a Chance Encounter' is a mixed-media series exploring the fleeting, but sometimes, memorable moments shared with total strangers.
Shot, Directed, Edited by Varsha Panikar & Asawari Jagushte
Kellogg's Upma 'Bachelor Pad'
Client - Kellogg's Agency - Ogilvy India
The Housemaids (Short)
The Housemaids is a film that delves into power struggles between class, gender and identity. Based loosely on the play The Maids by Gean Jenet, this film is about the inner lives of two sisters - housemaids to an ageing Madame in an upper-class ancestral home - as they spend their days playing transgressive power games.
Associate Producer & Styling - Varsha Panikar | | Director - Asawari Jagushte| Length: 23 min | Language: English (English subtitles)
Country: India
Platforms: Amazon Prime (UK/US) and Disney+ Hotstar (India)
Festival: Women Make Waves Film Festival (Taiwan) | Asian Women's Film Festival (IAWRT) | Bangalore Queer Film Festival (India)
Screenings:
Filamnt - Exploring Relationships
Flying Chameleon Film Festival
Watch on Amazon Prime (UK/US) or Disney + Hotstar (India)
Party La La La - Official Aftermovie
On February 27th, 2016 three Independent Bombay bands came together to put on a party like no other. Zero sponsorship, no crowd funding, instead fueled by belief, hard work and the desire to make something happen. Three Rock bands from Bombay, toured the city unplugged playing at offices, colleges and anywhere they could, promoting the DIY show of the year. So we decided to follow them around on 'The Day' and make something special for them. | Directed by Varsha Panikar
Elements
Series of shots showing water, oil, drop ink, milk, acrylics, sea reacting to motion, obstructions and gravity. Creating insight into the weird and wonderful world of macro scale. Next time, different background, liquid types, colours, lighting and aperture!
By Varsha Panikar
Origami Folds
An ongoing photo-poetry series that explores curves and folds of the human body (self and others) and uses it as a medium and metaphor for hopeless frailty and hardened impenetrability, from which emerges the themes of identity, dysphoria, the commodification of the body, and denial and loss of autonomy as conditions of globalized society and cultures through the lens of south-Asian, queer and marginalized bodies which are forever under critical scrutiny, objectification and dehumanizing policing from external and internal perspectives. Within this stifling framework, the skin has separated from the body, both physically in the act of medical dissection and alterations in an effort to meet popular standards of beauty, and metaphorically in the separation between skin and psyche. The skin here also represents time and wraps us up like cellophane wraps hard candy.
#antibeauty #teaser #origamifolds
36 Questions In Proximity Of A Conversation
A six-hour long immersive participatory experience about making space for listening, responding and play in a city that is known for it's race.
Conceptualized & Produced by: acceleratedintimacy | Facilitating Director: Nihaarika Negi | Videography and Photography : Varsha Panikar, Asawari Jagushte, Vincent
Welcome To The Army
A social commentary on pro war-rhetori by Varsha Panikar.
PocoM3 - Vox Pop
Brand - Xiaomi Poco | Agency - DDB Mudra, Bangalore
Butterfly Wings
Musings of a summer afternoon.
Poetry, Voice, Editing : Varsha Panikar | Music: Juillet by Monplaisi
Maya - Music Video
Concept, Direction: Varsha Panikar
Official music video of ‘Maya’ from Coshish’s debut album ‘Firdous’ © 2015 Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. The video is shot following an enthno - experimental approach focusing on using a moving body in space against an unnerving background of sacred geometry. It is designed around the concept of the human spirit and body metamorphosis, while the working process and the performance itself explores various elements of Butoh and contemporary dance.
The background is inspired by science of sacred geometry, the matrix of space and time, which some believe encompass a higher knowledge and secrets of the cosmos and the soul.
A process of regeneration, death and growth, where body and time become one by allowing the body to speak for itself through unconscious and improvised movements. This process of individuation; a harmonious, balanced state of oneness; spirit, body and mind, depicting the transcendence of soul from the body or the world of matter.
Top 10 Music Videos by Rolling Stones
Label: Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd.
Platform: MTV