Kiaan (L) & Anjum (R)

Festival Host, Kolkata

 

KIAAN DEY : I am Kiaan and I finished my  Bachelor's of Arts in Bengali Honours from Calcutta University in 2022, while simultaneously engaging in my  passion for art and design. I have worked at Flipkart as a delivery person, and in the departments of sorting and Telecalling. I have been a freelancer artist, working extensively for the past 7 years in poster making, pottery, art, and painting. Eager to be a part of discourses on trans and queer rights, I have  joined Sappho for Equality in the capacity of a field worker from July 2024, acting as a direct bridge between the organisation and the LGBTQ+ community. 

ANJUM KHATUN (SHE/HER) : I  Identify  as a cis woman, who has wanted to build a career in makeup since I  was 15. After completing school education till 8th, I  had to drop out due to various psychosocial pressures from home. I  worked at a boutique, stitching designer dresses for two years.. From the year 2022, I have started making video content and uploading them on YouTube and Instagram. Slowly and steadily, my  follower base grew, and I have  reached 39K followers, with which I have started earning money doing what I  love. 

Ramdhonu

Hosted by Anjum and Kiaan, Mentored by Titas 

Kolkata, West Bengal

 

Ramdhonu is a festival where we bring together all kinds of people—just like the rainbow, full of colours, full of diversity. We believe this gathering is about more than just stories; it’s about shifting perspectives and helping others see beyond labels and gender identity. The struggles and journeys of those in the LGBTQ community—people who have been forced to leave their homes, challenged societal norms, and fought to live authentically—are at the heart of this festival.

Through our films and discussions, we raised awareness, fostered empathy, and united people from all walks of life. Our stories are colourful, each unique, yet woven together by a common thread of resilience, love, and survival. 

 

 

114

participants joined, uniting to explore stories of diversity, LGBTQ+ visibility & a spirit of solidarity.

Girls & Women

Cis women & men, queer & transgender individuals, 5 to 60 years old, Diverse races & folks from rural & urban locations.

Festival Keywords

lgbtq+ visibility, diversity, feminist solidarity, counter-narratives, empathy

Simran* , Participant

“We saw a representation of our community on a big screen along with community members; it felt like a celebration and a monumental event.” 

Nargis* , Panelist

“Dear PoV, do not lose these films; they are precious and have a lot of power! They are stepping stone towards change.”

Garima*, Participant

“We would love the opportunity to create such stories of our trans community and also share our experiences in our own way.”

Visit Other Cities

59 Participants

75 Participants

80 Participants

Skip to content