Indian filmmaker Onir has wrapped up shooting for the first film under the ‘My Melbourne’ project, backed by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). The untitled film, co-directed by Onir and Wiliam Duan, is one of four movies to be shot under ‘My Melbourne,’ an initiative that brings together four iconic filmmakers from India to mentor young filmmakers from Australia. All four films will be shot in Melbourne and will explore themes of diversity, including race, disability, sexuality, and gender.
The untitled film by Onir and Duan was shot in just five days and stars Arka Das, Mouli Ganguli, and Jackson Gallagher. Based on grief and forgiveness, the movie follows the reunion of a queer Indian man, Indraneel, played by Das, and his father, Mihir, portrayed by Ganguli, after years of estrangement.
Onir, who is openly gay and an LGBTQ rights activist, expressed his happiness in being part of ‘My Melbourne’ and called it a unique film. He said, “It’s the first time such a unique cross-country initiative has been taken to bridge cultural ties and bring the two communities together using the medium of cinema…My film tells one such story of an integral part of diversity, bringing forth a warm story of a father trying to rebond with his gay son. It was a great experience to work and collaborate with talent from Melbourne. I am glad that Film Victoria and Mitu Bhowmick Lange have taken this step to celebrate cinema and diversity.”
Mitu Bhowmik Lange, director of the festival, said that the ambitious ‘My Melbourne’ project celebrates diversity and inclusivity, the core values of IFFM. “The key idea was to provide a platform to emerging creatives from diverse marginalized backgrounds from various walks and abilities of Australia, mentored by some of the world’s best filmmakers. It’s an anthology of four stories weaved into one feature film called My Melbourne based on authentic migrant experiences. We cannot be what we cannot see,” Lange added.
In addition to Onir, the other three films will be directed by Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, and Rima Das. The films will also feature a host of talented actors from both India and Australia, including Rahul Khanna, Radhika Apte, and Neena Gupta.
The ‘My Melbourne’ project is a unique opportunity for filmmakers from both countries to collaborate and explore themes of diversity and inclusivity. It is a significant step forward in bridging cultural ties and fostering relationships between India and Australia, using the power of cinema to unite people from diverse backgrounds. The project is set to premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne later this year.