Agents of Ishq is an Indian website about sexuality, love and desire. It was founded in 2014 by filmmaker, writer and artist Paromita Vohra, whose aim was to "create a positive and enabling conversation around sex", including different sexual orientations. The website is run by Parodevi Pictures, an independent media and arts company based in Mumbai.
History.
Agents of Ishq was a gradual outcome of Vohra's learnings build over her own work in documentary filmmaking, her relationship and interactions with feminist organizations like Saheli, Vaccha, Majlis and the urge to create something with its roots in the intuitive idea of feminism. With the working methodologies of an arts organization, Agents of Ishq aimed to co-create an inclusive, pleasure-positive, intersectional perspective on sexuality along with the contributors and audiences.
Covered by newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express and Economic Times, Agents of Ishq has been showcased as one of 10 global sexuality projects of excellence by UNESCO and has collaborated with organisations like Oxfam, Majlis, Population Council, CREA and brands such as Bumble.
Content.
"Agents of Ishq" is intended to provide a comprehensive sex education, using videos, graphics, comics, maps, arts and podcasts. Topics include relationships, dating, sex, and consent, within the framework of Indian culture. It draws on popular culture, including Bollywood style music videos and ancient erotic art. The website also contains teaching modules for schools and educators. The site is bilingual, with material in Hindi and English.
Projects.
"Agents of Ishq" have produced several short film for their website. In 2016, they created an educational movie called "Main Aur Meri Body", in collaboration with the NGO SNEHA in Dharavi, Mumbai. The same year they made a short film on the issue of sexual consent in collaboration with the lavani dance group Sangeet Bari, called "The Amorous Adventures of Shakku and Megha in the Valley of Consent". The video also features actor and comedian Gaurav Gera. In March 2020, "Agents of Ishq" released another film with lavani dancers, "Aika To The Baika: Police Complaint Lavani". The theme of the film, which was created in collaboration with the feminist legal centre Majlis, is how gender bias and misogyny can make it difficult for women to report sexual harassment or assaults, as women are often told that they will dishonour their families if they make such reports.
In 2021, "Agents of Ishq", along with The YP Foundation, organized a 3-day digital conference called Love, Sex and Data (LSD) conference. They have also partnered with Oxfam India.
Awards.
Agents of Ishq has won 5 Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity (LMMAGS). The LMMAGS is an initiative of the NGO Population First's Project Laadli to recognize efforts in gender sensitive journalism.
The awarded works include Aika to the Baika in the Web (Marathi) category, #SorryThankYouTataByeBye in Web - Feature Category, #GrownUpGirls in Web - Social Media Campaign category and Chitthi Aayi Hai! Ek Zara Choti, Ek Thodi Badi Lesbian Ke Beech, E-Mail Pe Baatein in the Web Blog (Hindi) category.
Agents of ishq has also been nominated for the Cosmopolitan Blogger awards.
References.
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