PRESS
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The Complexities Of Queer Identity & Self-Acceptance Captured Through Visual Poetry. - Homegrown
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'After So Long' inspired by vintage home-movie culture. (Film Review) - Gaysi
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This walkabout is a moment of transformation. - GirlsInFilm
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After So Long (Review/Feature) - Nowness.Asia
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A Portrait of Tender Intimacy in Visual Poem ‘Bodies of Desire’. - Directors Notes
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Queer works have to be looked at as a representation of marginalised in current socio-political climate. - Times Of India
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Mumbai artist Varsha Panikar talks about their new film ‘Bodies of Desire’. - Rolling Stones India
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A sensual celebration of genderless love and desire. - Nowness
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British Council launches 'Five Films For Freedom' campaign. - The Telegraph
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Five international LGBTQ short films at BFI Flare you can watch free anywhere in the world. - Attitude
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‘Bodies Of Desire’ Explores The Unparalleled End Of Intimacy & Passion. - Homegrown
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FLARE LGBTIQ+ BFI’s annual celebration of all things gay. - Filmuforia
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As for Bodies of Desire, love is not surrender. It is reciprocation. It’s sharing a space that is internal and external. - Otherness Archive
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Panikar and Nawab on their groundbreaking film “Bodies of Desire”. - The Lipstick Politico
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100 Women and Non-Binary directors we loved in 2021. - Rianne Pictures
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Queer short film ‘Bodies of Desire’ delves into themes of intimacy, identity. - The Hindu
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BFI Flare: Five Films For Freedom digital campaign returns for 2021. - Diva Mag
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Short Film ‘False Promises’ Reminds You What It Is To Be Human. - Homegrown
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Five LGBTQ+ short films, including one from India. - Cinestaan
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British Council launches 7th edition of Five Films for Freedom. - Times Of India
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Gits Food comes up with #ThankYouBhaiya campaign for Rakhi & Independence Day. - Exchange4Media
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Gits Food thanks the armed forces with their #ThankYouBhaiya ad campaign. - Economic Times
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Indian film finds place in 7th 'Five Films for Freedom'. - Millenium Post
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Of what queer urban India could look like. - The Digital Hash
PANELS & DISCUSSION
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Live Panel Discussion | Taking #PrideBeyondTheMonth | 14 July 2021 | How can brands become better allies to queer people and be truly inclusive, even after Pride month? | Varsha Panikar, Suruj Rajakhova, and Oishorjyo will share their thoughts in this candid panel discussion, hosted by Doel Rakshit from Brand Movers India on Instagram Live. Watch the discussion HERE.
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Q&A Eros Tantra & Embodiment Festival | Redifining Culture & Erotica | 12 June 2021 | A talk about Varsha's experience as a non-binary QPOC person, experience with collaborating and making erotica, and how this redefines, reclaims and represents an ever-changing erotica culture, especially in India, where sexuality, sex, and desire is still looked at with shame to a great extent. Watch the interview HERE.
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Panel Discussion | LGBTQIA++ representation in the India Entertainment Industry | 18 June 2021| A discussion with Faraz Arif Ansari- Director of Sisak, Sheer Qorma; Tathagatha Ghosh, Film Director, Varsha Panikar, Writer and Filmmaker and Kalki Subramaniam, Founder of Sahodari Foundation on the portrayal of the LGBTQIA++ community in the Indian Entertainment Industry at #PrideLiveFest.
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Interview + Q&A - Live | The Right's Collective Launch | 22 April 2021 | For the launch of Brown Bodies Zine, project lead, Habiba chats with Mathushaa Sagthidas, Varsha Panikar, South Asian Book Club and Dr. Fatima Rajina of Nijjormanush on their pieces exploring queerness, capturing brown bodies, South Asian history, and colourism. Watch the whole discussion HERE!
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Film Analysis & Panel Discussion | 11 April 2021 | The White Rose Club in collaboration with Glass Eye Gargi hosted a film analysis of 'The Portrait of a Lady on Fire' with Asawari Jagushte, Avijit Mukul Kishore, and Varsha Panikar.
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Screening + Q&A | Harkat Studio | 27 March 2021 | Screening of #FivefilmsofFreedom followed by a panel discussion with the team behind Bodies Of Desire along with Bonita Rajpurohit. Panel Members included Varsha Panikar, Saad Nawab, Asawari Jagushte, Doel Rakshit, Bonita Rajpurohit, Omkar Sharma.
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Interview & Q&A | BI Collective Delhi | 11 April 2021 | In their first episode, Suryatapa and Navdeep from the Bi Collective Delhi talk to non-binary filmmaker Varsha Panikar about their short film Bodies of Desire as part of British Council's #FiveFilmsforFreedom, an annual program featuring five LGBTQI interest films curated by BFI Flare. Listen to the podcast HERE.
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Interview & Q&A | NAZARIYA QFRG | 26 March 2021 | In conversation with Maithilee from Nazariya QFRG regarding their film Bodies Of Desire. Discussed multi-media art, queer activism, importance of representation, and platforms like #FiveFilmsForFreedom. WATCH the interview HERE.
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Screening | Queer Art Exchange 2.0 | February 2021 | A 2 hour art showcase, hosted and organised by Nhylar featuring music, visual art, spoken word, performance art etc. by queer desi/BIPOC artists, along with breakout room sessions we like to call "Energy Exchange Circles" in-between performances to connect art lovers with artists and one another.
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Interview | British Council Art & British Film Institute | February 2021 | Five Films For Freedom 2021: In conversation with Saad Nawab & Varsha Panikar. Directors Saad Nawab & Varsha Panikar tell us about their film 'Body of Desire', a sensual visual poem celebrating gender-less love and desire. WATCH the interview HERE.
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Interview + Q&A | HUNGAMA | February 2020 | In conversation with Almass Badat on Hungama London to discuss queer representation in Indian Cinema, the challenging gaze itself & how they are shaping the future of film making with Bodies of Desire, the visual-poetry film out now on Nowness Asia. WATCH the interview HERE.
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Featured | Astitva Productions | Art and Activism in Indian Trans + Non-Binary Communities.
EXHIBITIONS
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SATRANGI MELA (Queer Fest) - November 2021. Curated by The Gay Gaze Bombay.
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Dr.BOOTLEGER’S BOWL OF DELIGHTFUL DIVERSIONS - April 2021. Curated for One Future Collective's One Future Festival. It is an interactive-workshop based moving-image session (on zoom), that we designed to bring some folks together to create a new life, an organism, a memory box, an orchestra, a change, a dream. Perhaps, even a film, who knows? We let the day decide!
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THE DEVIL & THE DEEP BLUE SEA - December 2020. An evening of evening of carefully curated performances, dramatized readings, film screenings organised by The Gay Gaze Bombay. Original poetry and writings, performed by Varsha Panikar alongside a screening of their film, Bodies Of Desire. Other performances included works by Kim Kaul, Asawari Jagushte, Doel Rakshit and Gurleen Kaur.
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QUEER FUTURE ARCHIVE INSTALLATION - March 2020. An Afterpartycollective Installation showcased at Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney, supported by @parra_artiststudios at "Burn All The Books That Call You The Unknown" (exhibition by @fadescha). Featured works include @loveandotheroutdoorgames @minor_grace #drawingresistance @jahangirasgarjani @koshywada @mansi9710 @riotlrrrkhi @shubhamboseroy @fromtheafterglow @qfuturesparty and more.
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FRIDAKAHLING - January 2020. A pop-up art exhibition cum sale related to realities and resistance, in an effort, to start conversations around resistance by marginalized genders through art. Artist on show - Varsha Panikar, Vaishali Soni, Aishwarya Nabh, Subha, Alisha Huang, Boomranng Studio at Anat & Veda Live
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QUEEROTICA - December 2019. A Words Unboxed: Poetry Open Mic. Featured poets - Varsha Panikar, Alizeh, and Anagha, alongside pop-up art exhibition from their series, Bodies Of Desire at Anat & Veda Live.
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Varsha has performed spoken word at various offline and online events.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE CONTRIBUTE - 2020 and ongoing. An initiative by Ankita Jha. An online exhibit and sale. The money collected will be used to provide grocery/medicine kits for those in need. The exhibition included Varsha and their mother's work. Click HERE for making a contribition.