Festival Patron

Shyam Benegal

It is marvellous to see how KASHISH has grown over the last 12 years, but more important is its mainstream acceptance. Today KASHISH has become an important event in the mainstream cultural space in Mumbai. LGBT persons are still looked on as different and in many societies as criminals. Movies are a great way of communication and breaking these stereotypes. I support KASHISH as it helps to extend understanding of people in the broadest possible way and deepen the sense of humanity by including people of alternate sexuality.

Shyam Benegal is an iconic Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977) he was part of a new genre, which started the movement for Alternate cinema. His films Mandi, Junoon, Trikal, Sardari Begum, Zubeida are also considered masterpieces. Benegal was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and in 2007, he was awarded the highest award in Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times.