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 | Producer: Asawari Jagushte | 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 Short at Make Art Note Fear. 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
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
AND I THOUGHT OF HOME A creative documentary centred on the notion of chance and contingency as five creatives, strangers to each other, are put into conversation through their multimedia work, addressing feelings of loss, longing, nostalgia, and frustration to document the liminal place of home at the interstices of sociopolitics and personal poetics. Speaking from Beirut, Lima, London, and Mumbai, the disparate voices of the film’s women, queer, and non-binary collaborators are interwoven in an attempt to rethink the concepts of identity and kinship through a deconstruction of 'home' in fragments, collectively: Weaving a thought through flighty utterances, AND I THOUGHT OF HOME explores fragmented filmmaking, queer kinship, and (dis)connection; an act of first-person plural narration that moves beyond the limitations of physical spaces and temporal linearity. [Realised by Lily Zhuang in collaboration with Simisolaoluwa Akande (The Archive: Queer Nigerians, 2023), Mariana Dongo-Soria Salas, Mat/ilda Gowling, Théa Nasrallah, Varsha Panikar (Bodies of Desire, 2021)]
WORDS OF PRIDE - NANDINI 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. 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
CTRL+ALT+BELIEVE - International Women's Day Campaign Aisha, with her quirky village of friends and family, confronts first-day-back jitters of crossover from diaper duties to boardroom battles. At #DisneyStar, the #ReturntoShine Program empowers women to confidently resume their careers after a maternity gap. Nurture, lead, and leap back in—because every new chapter begins with belief. #CtrlAltBelieve you've got this. ​ Director, Story, Concept, Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.30 mins | Language: English, Hindi | Format: Narrative Fiction ​ Premiere: 8th Mar 2024 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - KABIR 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 Watch Priyadarshini tell us about their relationship with language on their journey towards self, beyond the social conditioning surrounding gender and sexuality. 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
SIGN EASY + GOOGLE DOCS Directed by Varsha Panikar | Client: Sign Easy | Agency: MAD ​
WORDS OF PRIDE - MAYA 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 - SOPHIA Watch Sophia’s story as she examines the lack of pre-existing vocabulary that keeps queer folks from being able to verbalize their most basic struggles and life events. See how finding the right words can change a life, giving voice to struggles and joys alike — all part of #WordsOfPride, an advocacy initiative by Disney Star. Available in 7 languages, it is a glossary of terms created with language experts from the queer community for a more inclusive society. Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2.05 mins | Language: Malayalam (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles) | Format: Socio-linguistic short documentary Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - ADAM 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
WORDS OF PRIDE - NEGHA Negha’s self-confidence soared when she found the right words to identify herself with. A story that highlights the joy of self-affirmation via respect — the core 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 read more. Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 2:07 min | Language: Tamil (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles) | Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentary Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - SUKANT Sukanth tells us about embracing the truth on his journey towards liberation, family and happiness.The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too. 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: 2.09 mins | Language: Telugu (English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam subtitles) | Format: Ethno-linguistic short documentaries. Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 6th Sept 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - DOEL Doel shares her views on the existing language and her continued search for words that she is comfortable using to talk about her identity. Follow Doel’s journey of self-expression as she navigates through language, finding words that resonate with her identity — embodying the essence of #WordsOfPride, an advocacy initiative by Disney Star. Available in 7 languages, it is a glossary of terms created with language experts from the queer community for a more inclusive society. Director & Executive Producer - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 1:49 min | Language: Bengali (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles) | Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentary Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 6th Sept 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - WINNIE Winnie tells us about the value of active allyship in their journey and how inclusive language is an important step towards real change. The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too. Visit www.wordsofpride.com to read more. Direction, - Varsha Panikar | Production House - Star Hopper | Length: 1:42 min | Language: Hindi (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil subtitles) | Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentary Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
WORDS OF PRIDE - ARCHANA & POOJA For Pooja & Archana, love is the one language that transcends all. Watch the powerhouse couple tell us about their journey towards this life changing union. The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too. 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: 2.24 mins | Language: English (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam subtitles) | Format: Ethno-linguistic short documentaries.​ Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 6th Sept 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
FALSE PROMISES A poem written and voiced by Varsha Panikar, directed by Abhay Raha and beautifully captured by Malay Prakash. The poem is part of Varsha's anthology "At The End Of The Line," written during the 2020 lockdown, the film reflects on resilience and hope amidst life's uncertainties. It garnered special mention and a Certificate of Excellence at the 11th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2021 and was shortlisted at the New York City Independent Film Festival. Check out this heartfelt creation that voices our collective spirit of survival.
GITS - RAKSHABANDHAN Directed by Varsha Panikar Client: GITS Agency : Togglehead Digital Pvt Ltd
KELLOGG'S - BACHELOR PAD Director - Varsha Panikar Client - Kellogg's Agency - Ogilvy India
FEMINIST YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME - UN WOMEN & GENDER AT WORK Here’s a sneak peek into our film, made in collaboration with Gender At Work (India) and UN Women (India). Producer - Varsha Panikar Director - Priyanka Verma 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.​
THE HOUSEMAIDS The Housemaids is a short 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 Production House: Pramod Films & Star Hopper Studio 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)
FINDING PRIDE - RIT Rit struggled to find the words in their mother tongue to express their non-binary identity, often feeling disconnected from their roots. With the support of allies and the inclusive language provided by Words of Pride, Rit reclaimed their identity and shared their truth with their community. Watch now and explore the Words of Pride lexicon: www.wordsofpride.com Client: Disney + Star Production House: Star Hopper Director: Virender Singh Producer: Varsha Panikar Executive Producer: Asawari Jagushte
LOVE, ALLYSHIP, & LANGUAGE Rydell and Tejas, a queer couple from Mumbai, navigate their journey through allyship, family acceptance, and self-discovery, showcasing the transformative power of love and language in the Words of Pride lexicon by Disney+ Star. Watch now and explore the Words of Pride lexicon: www.wordsofpride.com Client: Disney + Star Production House: Star Hopper Director: Virender Singh Producer: Varsha Panikar Executive Producer: Asawari Jagushte
THE TIMELESS CHARM OF A CHANCE ENCOUNTER - GURUCHARANJI 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. 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. Shot, Directed, Edited by Varsha Panikar & Asawari Jagushte ​
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.
VALENTINE'S DAY For Pooja & Archana, love is the one language that transcends all. Watch the powerhouse couple tell us about their journey towards this life changing union. 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: English (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kanada, Malayalam subtitles) | Format: Ethno-linguistic short documentaries.​ Format: Socio-linguistic micro documentaries Premiere: 6th Sept 2023 Country: India​ Platforms: Disney + Star Network
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