As Australia’s Indian community hoisted the tricolour and danced gaily to mark India’s 77th Independence Day, a film celebrating the diversity of Melbourne had its world premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) opening night at Hoyts Docklands.
A red-carpet affair with everyone from Karthik Aaryan to Adam Gilchrist in attendance (but sadly no Ram Charan or A R Rahman!), IFFM’s own feature film initiative ‘My Melbourne’ was well received amongst an audience with an appetite for inclusive storytelling.
Supported by VicScreen and Screen Australia, the film has been at least four years in the making, experiencing numerous delays due to the pandemic. Spirits were high however, with Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks noting the overlap between the film’s premiere and the momentous date for the Indian community.
‘The strength of our multiculturalism here in Victoria is that everyone shares their culture…No one does that more than the Indian community here in Victoria,’ he said on the night.
A collection of four short films themed around ‘the four pillars of diversity – race, gender, sexuality and disability’, the ‘My Melbourne’ project allowed marginalised emerging creatives to work alongside some of India’s most celebrated filmmakers – Imtiaz Ali, Rima Das, Onir and Kabir Khan.
Onir’s NANDINI sees a queer Indian man reconnect with his estranged father who has travelled to Melbourne to complete a funeral ritual for his wife.
Led by Rima Das, EMMA follows a talented Deaf dancer who must find the strength to pursue her passion and overcome self-doubt.
In JULES by Imtiaz Ali, a newlywed in an abusive relationship and a free-spirited homeless woman form an unlikely connection.
Kabir Khan revisits his sport biopic ’83 as the director of SETARA, the story of an Afghan teenager who is forced to reconcile her past when she joins her school’s cricket team.
Featuring five languages (Hindi, Dari, Auslan, English and Bengali), the film is set to have an Australian theatrical release in February 2025, with closed and open captions, audio description and sensory descriptions.
Filmed over five days, director Rima Das says creating EMMA was an intuitive and organic process based on the lived experiences of her mentees including Samira Cox, a writer and director with Usher syndrome.
‘I’m so glad and thankful they opened up and shared their life and experiences with me…Initially I had my fear, but I realised it’s not ‘difficult’, it’s a beautiful challenge and you just need to confront it,’ she told Indian Link.
Kabir Khan, director of SETARA, says he is proud to have collaborated with local emerging talent to tell the true story of Afghan cricket prodigy Setara on the big screen.
‘It was such a joy to work with a crew that was predominantly Australian…These are stories drawn from real life; meeting Setara was such a joy, and telling her story is thrilling and exciting,’ he said.
Director Imtiaz Ali says working on JULES was a creatively enriching experience.
‘It was a teaching set…but it was more like I was a student; people like us working in the Indian film industry don’t get a chance to play outside our field,’ he said.
Now in it’s 15th year, this year’s IFFM features 65 films in 27 languages, including films by 21 female directors. The premiere of ‘My Melbourne’ sets the tone for an inclusive and diverse IFFM which we’ll hopefully see continue throughout the festival’s run.
Rima Das hopes the ‘My Melbourne’ project will go beyond simply a film and catalyse genuine conversations on diversity.
‘We need to realise inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a necessity.’ she told Indian Link. ‘[People with disabilities] don’t need our sympathy, they need equal opportunities, respect and empathy.’
‘This is very special for me and everyone; with pure heart and intention we made it, and when we’re positive about it, that will spark conversation.’
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