Men Against Violence & Abuse

Men Against Violence & Abuse MAVA’s vision is to have gender-just society - where men and women live in harmony and with self-respect, by providing spaces for mutual growth and well-being.

MAVA wants to bring about social change, particularly in a traditional, male-dominated societ

13/09/2026

Films have the power to challenge our biases around sexual orientations and gender identities. But what happens when you still feel like you don’t belong in spaces meant to welcome you?

Q***r experiences are shaped by caste, class and privilege. Access to spaces, opportunities and even something as ordinary as makeup can look very different for different people.

At SamaBhav 2025, a conversation on q***r representation brought forward an important question: Who gets to feel seen, heard and included?

Because meaningful representation must recognise the differences within our communities, not just the identities we put on screen.

[q***r representation, LGBTQIA+ experiences, caste and class, q***r communities, privilege, gender identity, sexual orientation, inclusive spaces, films for change, SamaBhav 2026][gender equity, q***r representation, LGBTQIA+ experiences, caste and class, privilege, films for change, gender diversity, inclusive storytelling, sexual orientation, SamaBhav 2026]

11/09/2026

From July 2025 to March 2026, SamaBhav travelled across 18 venues, 8 cities and 5 rural districts, bringing films and conversations on gender, sexuality, masculinity, gender diversity and violence against women into diverse spaces.

Under the theme “Inculcating Equanimity, Frame by Frame,” the seventh edition brought together around 2,700 participants and 118 discussants—gender-rights activists, academicians, filmmakers and others who helped turn every screening into an opportunity for dialogue, reflection and questioning.

Here are a few glimpses from the journey of the seventh edition of SamaBhav Travelling International Film Festival. 🎬

Watch the full video on our YouTube channel and take a look back at the conversations, communities and moments that made this edition possible.

🎬 Glimpses from SamaBhav 2026! ✨A day of films that made us pause, conversations that made us think, and voices that rem...
09/09/2026

🎬 Glimpses from SamaBhav 2026! ✨

A day of films that made us pause, conversations that made us think, and voices that reminded us why creating spaces for dialogue matters.

Through powerful stories on screen and meaningful conversations off it, SamaBhav brought together young people, educators, practitioners and film enthusiasts to watch, reflect, question and engage with questions of gender equity, diversity and inclusion. 🌱

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their perspectives and helped make the space one of learning, reflection and collective action. ❤️

Presented by Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA) in collaboration with Sathaye College (Autonomous) and Centre for Mental Health Advocacy, Research and Treatment Services (CMHARTS).

With the support of the Embassy of Iceland, New Delhi, Norwegian Consulate General, Mumbai, and DAWN Worldwide.

🎥 Films for change. Conversations for a more equal and inclusive world.

DiversityAndInclusion CinemaForChange FilmFestival SocialChange YouthEngagement SathayeCollege CMHARTS MumbaiEvents

When we tell boys to “be strong,” “hold it in,” or “stop crying,” we may be passing on ideas about masculinity that leav...
11/08/2026

When we tell boys to “be strong,” “hold it in,” or “stop crying,” we may be passing on ideas about masculinity that leave little room for vulnerability. But crying isn’t weakness. It is one of the many ways we understand, process and express what we feel.

Perhaps raising boys differently also means learning to question what we were taught.

(boys and emotions, healthy masculinity, emotional expression, gender norms, masculinity, boys and mental health, emotional literacy, gender socialisation, parenting, vulnerability)

Why does protection become a reason to restrict one child, while freedom becomes a given for another?This story isn't ju...
01/08/2026

Why does protection become a reason to restrict one child, while freedom becomes a given for another?

This story isn't just about one family. It reflects the everyday rules shaped by gender, where girls are expected to be protected while boys are expected to protect themselves. What if we questioned those assumptions instead?

Whose freedom are we protecting, and at what cost?

(Gender Equality, Patriarchy, Gender Norms, Women's Safety, Youth, Feminism, Equal Freedom, Social Change, Family, ComicsForChange)

आवाज़ सिर्फ़ बोलने का ज़रिया नहीं होती। कभी-कभी वही हमारी पहचान, हमारा आत्मविश्वास और खुद को खुलकर जीने की हिम्मत होती ह...
28/07/2026

आवाज़ सिर्फ़ बोलने का ज़रिया नहीं होती। कभी-कभी वही हमारी पहचान, हमारा आत्मविश्वास और खुद को खुलकर जीने की हिम्मत होती है।

जब किसी लड़के को उसकी आवाज़, उसके व्यवहार या उसके होने के तरीके के लिए शर्मिंदा किया जाता है, तो उसे सिर्फ़ चुप नहीं कराया जाता—उसे यह सिखाया जाता है कि वह जैसा है, वैसा काफ़ी नहीं है।

‘अपनी आवाज़ की तलाश’ उस चुप्पी से बाहर आने और यह समझने की कहानी है कि किसी को ‘मर्द’ होने के लिए एक तय आवाज़, एक तय अंदाज़ या एक तय पहचान में ढलने की ज़रूरत नहीं।

(बुलिंग, जेंडर स्टीरियोटाइप्स, आत्मविश्वास, आत्म-स्वीकृति, मानसिक स्वास्थ्य, भावनात्मक स्वास्थ्य, सहानुभूति, युवा, जेंडर समानता)

18/06/2026

Legal victories can open doors, but belonging is shaped every day in families, workplaces, schools, and communities. As Pride Month reminds us, dignity is not only about rights on paper but also about how we choose to see and treat one another.

Featuring Justice Ajit Prakash Shah speaking at Sambhav Film Festival, Delhi, on the continuing journey toward a more inclusive society.

(LGBTQIA+ Rights, Pride Month, Marriage Equality, Q***r India, Constitutional Rights, Social Justice, Inclusion, Equality, Sambhav Film Festival, LGBTQIA+ Community)

14/06/2026

Who gets encouraged to play which games? Who is expected to dress a certain way? Which interests are celebrated, and which are dismissed? These small moments can quietly shape how we understand ourselves and the possibilities we imagine for our future.

Yet identity is far more complex than the roles assigned to us. Many people grow up feeling that the expectations placed upon them do not fully reflect who they are. Recognising this is not about rejecting society; it is about creating space for people to define themselves on their own terms.

From a discussion at Sambhav Film Festival 2025

(Identity, Gender, GenderIdentity, GenderExpression, LGBTQIA, Q***rIndia, Inclusion, GenderRoles, PrideMonth, SocialChange)

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