Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of India’s most comprehensive cultural festivals, featuring over 350 events, hundreds of visual arts installations and activities spread across over 30 venues. Now in its 26th year, this edition is particularly significant given the high expectations following last year’s festival.
In this candid and exclusive conversation, Brinda Milker, President of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, speaks as the prestigious event marks its 26th year as Asia’s largest arts festival, promising an exciting range of celebrations and experiences ahead. The literary section includes renowned writers like Kiran Desai, while the music lineup includes renowned artists like Vishal Bhardwaj, Farhan Akhtar, Rahul Deshpande, Monali Thakur and Kavita Seth.
01. What makes Kala Ghoda Art Festival truly unique, and how does it feel fresh and different with every edition?
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The Kala Ghoda Art Festival is unique because it is a different experience every year. It’s not just about glamour; It’s about an engaged, thoughtful audience. It is perhaps the only festival that truly brings every form of art, dance, music, theatre, cinema, visual arts and even urban design and decoration under one umbrella. The festival also plays an important role in celebrating and reviving the historic arts and cultural district of Mumbai.
This year, we’re launching O’Romeo Aur Do Deewane Sheher Mein Like, including exclusive trailer showcases and previews.
02. Are there any films screened at Kala Ghoda that remained on hold long after the festival ended?
Last year, we hosted the premiere of Boman Irani’s film The Mehta Boys. It was a beautifully made and widely appreciated film and the launch was particularly memorable.
03. Do you think the theatrical experience is declining with the rapid growth of OTT platforms?
I don’t think cinema is in decline. Films like Dhurandhar have performed very well. I think there will be less theatrical releases now, especially for smaller films, because people think of OTT first. Many smaller films actually do better there. Take Missing Ladies, for example, it didn’t do very well in theaters, but as soon as it came on OTT, it became the number one film on the platform.
So I don’t see it as good or bad; This is a completely new trend. Some films can afford to release in theaters and then move to OTT, but sometimes smaller films have to be released only on OTT, while big films like Chhaavaa are on the big screen. Kaala Ghoda has launched many memorable films, Chhaava with Vicky Kaushal, Badrinath Ki Dulhania with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, Queen with Amit Trivedi and Kangana Ranaut, and every year, we have launched major films at the festival.
04. What is the selection process of films and artists in the festival?
Generally, films which are about to be released or are newly released see the festival as a promotional platform. Kala Ghoda provides direct and engaged audiences, making it an accessible and effective space for interaction between filmmakers and audiences.
05. Have any of the Kala Ghoda films given rise to major public discussion or controversy?
The launch of Queen is the most special. No one had any idea that the film would become so big; It became a huge success after its release. Over the years, most of the films launched at the festival have performed well. The only exception was Fitoor, which was a well-made film but did not perform as expected commercially.
06. Which Indian filmmaker inspires you the most?
One person I admire a lot is Jackie Shroff. He often comes unannounced and, like others, sits in the audience without promoting any film. His genuine love of festivals and the arts, and encouraging others to participate, really sets him apart.
Organized by the Kala Ghoda Association, the festival began as a local initiative in 1999 and has since grown to become one of Asia’s largest multidisciplinary street art festivals.
Kala Ghoda Art Mahotsav 2026 will take place from January 31 in the Kala Ghoda area of ​​Churchgate, Mumbai. The festival will conclude on 8th February with a special performance by Farhan Akhtar and Monali Thakur, marking a grand finale to Mumbai’s biggest cultural extravaganza.