Bengali cinema shines at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025 with bold line-up of nine films
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 is poised to turn the spotlight on Bengali cinema, unveiling a compelling slate of nine films that showcase the region's storytelling depth, cultural richness, and cinematic evolution.
From restored classics to contemporary powerhouses, this year's Bengali line-up cuts across genres and generations.
Leading the selection is
Baksho Bandi
, a stirring feature by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, starring Tillotama Shome and Chandan Bisht. The film follows Maya, a resilient woman working multiple jobs, who faces a personal upheaval when her husband mysteriously vanishes. The emotional narrative offers a layered portrait of urban survival and inner turmoil.
IFFM also marks the return of director
Suman Ghosh
with
Puratawn (The Ancient)
. Featuring iconic performances from Sharmila Tagore, Rituparna Sengupta, and Indraneil Sengupta, the film delves into intergenerational bonds and memory, as Ritika confronts the emotional erosion of her mother's mind.
Adding a contemporary voice is
Ahana (The Light Within)
by Promita Bhowmik. The film features
Sudipta Chakraborty
and Joy Sengupta in a powerful tale of a young woman navigating creative expression and patriarchal pressures, capturing a nuanced journey of resilience and identity.
In a tribute to cinematic legacy, the festival will also screen two restored masterpieces by Ritwik Ghatak —
Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (A River Called Titas)
and
Meghe Dhaka Tara (The Cloud-Capped Star)
— offering audiences a rare chance to experience these classics on the big screen. Both films poignantly explore themes of displacement, sacrifice, and social fracture in the wake of partition.
The Bengali showcase is further enriched by transnational and diaspora narratives. From Bangladesh, Maksud Hossain's
Saba
and Nuhash Humayun's genre-blending
Dui Shaw
bring fresh storytelling angles, while cross-cultural shorts like
A Doll Made Up of Clay from Yoruba
by Kokob Gebrehaweria and
Elijah
by Razid Season reflect a growing appetite for diverse South Asian perspectives across global platforms.
As Bengali cinema takes center stage at IFFM 2025, the festival promises not just a regional spotlight but a broader conversation on language, legacy, and innovation. With its blend of evocative drama, social commentary, and international collaboration, the showcase underscores why Bengali cinema remains one of India's most powerful artistic voices.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
National award will motivate other young directors: Deep Fridge director
Kolkata, Aug 1 (PTI) Arjunn Dutta, whose 'Deep Fridge' won the National Award for Bengali feature film, said the honour will inspire and motivate new independent thinking directors like him to make their kind of cinema. He also described it as a proud moment for Bengali cinema. Deep Fridge, directed by Dutta, won the National Award for Best Bengali Feature Film in the 71st National Awards announced on Friday evening. 'Deep Fridge, which had been screened in IFFI has been very special to us. I am so happy for the honour. It will motivate young independent filmmakers like me to make my kind of cinema," Dutta told PTI. He said the film was also special to him as it was made when his mother fell ill and died. view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 22:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Abir Chatterjee On National Award Win For Deep Fridge: 'I Almost Didn't Do It…'
Last Updated: Abir Chatterjee is thrilled as Deep Fridge, starring him and Tnusree C and directed by Arjun Dutta, won Best Bengali Film at the 71st National Film Awards. Bengali superstar Abir Chatterjee is elated as Arjun Dutta's Deep Fridge which stars him and actress Tnusree C, has won the Best Bengali Film at the 71st National Film Awards, which were announced today. Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, the actor shared his excitement and looked back at how he almost didn't end up doing the film. 'I had initially said no to the film," Abir revealed. 'There were some date issues and things weren't aligning. But Arjun [Dutta] was persistent — he kept at it, and I eventually gave in. I am glad I did. We shot the film in 2023." The actor also said that it was an intense project to take on, especially because the film is largely hinged on just two characters. 'That automatically means the load is a lot more on the actors to hold the audience's attention and carry the film emotionally," he said. He added that this made the process more demanding but also creatively rewarding. 'I'm genuinely happy that the film has struck a chord with the critics. It means a lot when such stories get recognised at the national level." Opening up about how creatively involved he was throughout the shoot, Abir said, 'It became a very collaborative process. I would return from the shoot and discuss the next day's scenes with Arjun. I even gave my inputs — it was creatively very fulfilling. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves." However, Deep Fridge, despite the national recognition, has not yet released. Speaking about this, Abir admitted, 'It's unfortunate, but there are multiple factors. Those backing the film weren't sure if the Bengali audience was ready for a film like this. But hopefully, that will change now. When a film wins such a prestigious award, it definitely piques audience interest." This isn't the first time Abir Chatterjee's film has won at the National Film Awards. In the 2017 film Bishorjon, directed by Kaushik Ganguly, a moving cross-border love story, Abir played Naseer, an Indian Muslim man stranded on the Bangladeshi side of the Ichhamati River, who was cared for by a Hindu widowed woman, played by Jaya Ahsan. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali at the 64th National Film Awards in 2017. Looking ahead, Abir, well-known for playing iconic detective characters like Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda, will be seen in Raktabeej 2, directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee of Praktan and Belashuru fame. His next, Suman Mukhopadhyay's The Puppet's Tale (Putulnacher Itikatha), premiered in International Film Festival Rotterdam's Big Screen Competition in February. First Published: August 01, 2025, 20:40 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
8 hours ago
- India Today
Janhvi Kapoor-Ishaan Khatter's Homebound to close Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, 'Homebound', starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, is now set to be the closing film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025. The film was directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj about the film's inclusion at IFFM, Neeraj Ghaywan shared, 'Homebound explores the fragile threads of friendship, ambition, and the emotional cost of breaking free to come into your own. IFFM has long championed meaningful cinema, and I'm very excited that Homebound is part of that legacy as their closing film.'advertisementProducer Karan Johar also expressed pride in the film's journey, stating, 'At its core, Homebound is a story of aspiration, identity, and the quiet heartbreak that comes with change. Neeraj has crafted a hauntingly beautiful film, and I'm immensely proud that Dharma Productions could back this vision. To showcase it as the closing film at IFFM, a festival that celebrates bold and relevant storytelling, is the perfect next step in its journey.' 'Homebound' follows the journey of two childhood friends from northern India who dream of becoming police officers to escape poverty and change their lives. As their dreams begin to take shape, their friendship starts to flourish, highlighting the emotional cost of ambition and by a production team including Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra, and co-producers Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan du Plantier, the film also features Martin Scorsese as executive 2025 will run from August 14 to 24 in Melbourne, featuring a wide range of screenings, red carpet events, engaging industry panels, and the much-anticipated IFFM Awards.- EndsTrending Reel
