Key Points
- The Indan Film Festival of Melbourne IFFM is among the highlights of the city’s cultural calendar in August
- Accolades are bestowed upon the year’s best Indian films, actors and filmmakers
- The jurors unanimously praised the diversity, creativity and talent that were presented before them
While the IFFM’s gala awards night on 14 August offered up some surprises, arguably little could compete with the impromptu bhangra (traditional folk dance) performed by Victoria’s Chief Health officer Brett Sutton.
The audience enjoyed a change from hearing Mr Sutton talk about booster shots, to watching the health expert happily shake a leg onstage at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda.
The IFFM celebrates the best of Indian cinema and is among the highlights of the city’s cultural calendar in August
The festival has on offer more than 100 films in 29 languages and includes a whirlwind of related events from flag hoisting, a Bollywood dance competition, red carpet premieres and more.
Its crowning event, however, is the glamorous awards night, where accolades are bestowed upon the year’s best Indian films, actors and filmmakers.
Tasked with whittling down a cast of strong entries, the panel of judges including film director and screenwriter Geoffrey Wright, film editor Jill Bilcock, screen director Nadia Tass and film critic/journalist Rajeev Masand unanimously praised the diversity, creativity and talent that was presented before them. Actor Vince Colosimo was unable to attend due to COVID-19.
Indian TV personality Rithvik Dhanjiani served as emcee, keeping things running smoothly and garnering many laughs with his antics.
Ranveer Singh bagged the Best Actor award for his performance in Kabir Khan’s 83, while Sakshi Tanwar took out Best Actress in a Series for her role in Mai. Though both were not present to collect the award, they each sent pre-recorded virtual messages to acknowledge the honour.
Ranveer Singh sends a message of thanks after bagging the Best Actor award for his performance in Kabir Khan’s 83. Source: SBS Hindi
Shoojit Sircar (Sardar Udham) and Aparna Sen (The Rapist) shared the Best Director award while sports drama 83 took away the Best Film award.
Vaani Kapoor, elegant in a lime green gown, accepted the Disrupter in Cinema award for her portrayal of a trans woman in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui.
The team behind Pakistani Urdu drama Joyland took to the stage to receive the Best Film from the Subcontinent, while Anmol Sidhu’s short film Jaggi won in the Best Indie Film category.
During his acceptance speech, Mr Sidhu shared that the film was made with the help of crowdfunding with limited finances restricting them to the most basic camera equipment.
He said that the pro 6K professional camera that came with the award meant a lot to him. He specially thanked director Anurag Kashyap for inspiring him with his famous quote ‘If you have a story you want to convey, even your phone's camera is enough’.
Anurag sir said 'just take whatever you have and make a film' and I did.Anmol Sidhu
The award ceremony featured dance performances, music by composer Tamil Rogeon, and local artists Janaki Eswar and Parvyn Kaur Singh. Singer Sona Mohapatra crooned her hit numbers like Bekhauff and Ambarsariya, her powerful voice and personality towering above others.
Singer Sona Mohapatra enraptures the audience with her powerful voice during the IFFM Awards Night 2022. Source: SBS Hindi
He was followed by Abhishek Bachchan, who took home the Leadership in Cinema award.
Both professed to be perplexed at being chosen for those categories but graciously accepted their awards nevertheless.
Web series favourite Mumbai Diaries 26/11 took out Best Series and Best Actor in a Series for Mohit Raina.
We don’t just sing and dance; we also write stories.Nikkhil Advani
Mumbai diaries 26/11 director Nikkhil Advani said the aim of the festival to advocate and showcase perceptive stories that stay with the audience long after screening.
