Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025 to honor legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak on his birth centenary
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 will pay a special tribute to the late
Ritwik Ghatak
, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the acclaimed filmmaker's birth. Recognized as a National Award winner and Padma Shri honoree, Ghatak's pioneering work as a director, screenwriter, actor, and playwright profoundly shaped
Indian cinema
and continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide.
Despite limited recognition during his lifetime, Ghatak's films, including
Meghe Dhaka Tara
,
Subarnarekha
, and
Komal Gandhar
, are now hailed as masterpieces. His unique cinematic voice tackled themes of partition, social upheaval, displacement, and feminism with poetic intensity and revolutionary visual storytelling, leaving an enduring legacy that remains relevant today.
Ritwik Ghatak
IFFM 2025 will feature a dedicated retrospective of Ghatak's landmark films alongside panel discussions and academic tributes, aiming to introduce his groundbreaking work to new audiences globally.
Festival director Mitu Bhowmik Lange highlighted the importance of this tribute. 'Ritwik Ghatak was a visionary ahead of his time. His films explored trauma and identity with depth and urgency that still resonate.
This celebration is not just a tribute—it's a call to continue telling such vital stories," said Mitu.
The centenary event is set to be a key highlight of the festival, uniting cinephiles, scholars, and contemporary filmmakers to honor a legend who redefined the language of Indian cinema.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Kingdom FIRST Review Out: Vijay Deverakonda Delivers Peak Performance In Blockbuster Comeback
Last Updated: Kingdom's first reviews are out! Vijay Deverakonda earns praise for a stellar comeback. Fans call it his 'peak performance' and a cinematic masterpiece. Kingdom FIRST Review Out: Vijay Deverakonda is back, and fans couldn't be more thrilled. The first reviews for Kingdom are out, and early reactions suggest that the actor has finally bounced back after a series of underwhelming performances. With his latest release, Vijay seems to have struck the right chord with both critics and audiences, delivering what many are calling his 'peak performance." Kingdom had its premiere shows in the US ahead of its Indian release, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans took to social media platform X to share their thoughts. One user wrote, 'First half reviews from USA are super, couldn't be happier for you, @TheDeverakonda ❤️🔥🔥 #Kingdom." Another added, 'Peak Performance Of King 👑 @TheDeverakonda and mind-blowing BGM @anirudhofficial. Masterpiece of Indian Cinema… Welcome Our New PowerStar." The film, a gripping spy thriller, is written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Produced by Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the banners of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, Kingdom marks the beginning of a planned duology. Vijay plays a constable who goes undercover, and he recently expressed his desire to do a full-fledged police role in the future. One of the film's strongest assets is its music, composed by Anirudh Ravichander. At the film's pre-release event in Hyderabad, Anirudh praised the project, calling it a 'milestone film" for everyone involved. He also shared a touching anecdote about Vijay. 'Five days before the release, he messaged me, asking if I was getting enough sleep and rest. That shows the heart of Vijay Deverakonda," he said. The first half of the film is being described as emotional and a 'slow poison," hinting at a layered narrative. With strong background music, impactful visuals, and a powerful performance by Vijay, Kingdom is shaping up to be a game-changer. After disappointments like World Famous Lover, Liger, and The Family Star, Vijay's fans finally have a reason to celebrate. If early reviews are anything to go by, Kingdom could mark the beginning of a new era in his career. First Published:
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Entertainment Network India Ltd Q1 revenue up 3% as digital, events drive growth
Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) reported consolidated revenue of ₹117 crore for the quarter ended June 30, marking a year-on-year increase of 3%. Domestic revenue rose 3.2% to ₹113 crore, supported by growth in the events, solutions, and digital segments. Ebitda for the quarter stood at ₹6.2 crore, up 3.6% from the same period last year. ENIL operates Radio Mirchi , which runs FM radio stations in 63 Indian cities, and also owns the audio streaming platform Gaana. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Management Data Science others CXO healthcare Technology Finance Healthcare MCA Product Management Artificial Intelligence Public Policy Degree Project Management Design Thinking Digital Marketing Data Analytics PGDM Leadership MBA Operations Management Data Science Others Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Radio advertising remained subdued, largely due to a high base in Q1 FY25, which had seen one-time political advertising during the general elections. Ebitda, excluding the digital business, came in at ₹16 crore, with a margin of 17.5%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 32 Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo The digital segment reported revenue of ₹21.7 crore, accounting for 40.7% of ENIL's core radio advertising revenue, compared with 24.8% in the same quarter last year. Investments in the segment declined to ₹9.8 crore from ₹14.2 crore in the year-ago period. The international segment also reported a positive contribution, with revenue of ₹4.1 crore and a positive Ebitda. Live Events "In a quarter marked by industry challenges and market volatility, our strategy to evolve from a radio-only company to a multimedia business has delivered promising results. Our events and solutions segment grew by a strong 33% in Q1, supported by our continued focus on solution-based offerings," said Yatish Mehrishi, CEO of ENIL. "Our digital business, which recorded 41.2% growth, continues to gain momentum. Gaana is seeing robust subscription uptake and consumer engagement, signalling increasing user alignment. With improved cost efficiency and a sharper focus on multi-platform expansion, ENIL is well-positioned to tap into emerging opportunities in the evolving media landscape." As of June 30, the company had cash reserves of ₹349 crore.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
'Get a surgery done': This big Bollywood director told Vidya Balan to change her nose before debut
High Nursery Fees Stir Questions on Access, Privilege and Priorities in Education Vidya Balan may be celebrated today as one of Indian cinema's most acclaimed actresses, but her path to recognition was far from easy. Long before the critical success of Parineeta (2005), Balan faced numerous rejections, cultural pressures, and personal challenges that tested her began her film career with hopes pinned on a Malayalam film titled Chakram, where she was cast opposite superstar Mohanlal. However, the project was shelved shortly after production began, causing her to lose several other opportunities in the Malayalam industry. Even the one film she completed, Kalari Vikraman, never saw a release, leaving her deeply discouraged. Her attempts to break into Tamil cinema also failed, compounding her early setbacks. Balan has spoken openly about the identity-related compromises she was urged to make during this period. In a conversation with Filmfare, she recalled being told to drop her surname 'Balan' in favor of her community name, becoming "Vidya Iyer" — a suggestion meant to align her with regional naming conventions. Though she briefly agreed, the experience left her emotionally distressed. Her parents reminded her of her roots, and when the project ultimately fell through, it reaffirmed her belief in staying true to herself. Despite these struggles, Vidya eventually made her acting debut in the Bengali film Bhalo Theko (2003). Her breakthrough came with Parineeta, directed by Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. However, even this major opportunity came with conditions. Balan revealed that Chopra had suggested she undergo nose surgery before the film, claiming her nose was 'too long.' She firmly declined the suggestion, maintaining that she had never altered her face and believed in keeping her natural appearance. While Parineeta proved to be a turning point — earning her critical acclaim and the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut — her professional journey post-debut wasn't devoid of challenges. Vidya recalled that after the film's success, she was frequently asked to reinvent her appearance in photoshoots. She was often told to look 'younger and sexier,' even before directors had fully explored her acting potential. Though initially open to change, she admitted that the constant focus on image eventually became Balan's performance in Parineeta, where she portrayed the strong yet gentle Lalita, was widely praised for its emotional depth and quiet intensity. The film, set in 1960s Kolkata, explored themes of love, class, and tradition, and Balan's chemistry with co-star Saif Ali Khan brought added depth to the story. Her performance marked a departure from the typical debutante, signaling the arrival of a serious the years, Balan has built a career defined by unconventional choices and powerful performances, including her National Award-winning role in The Dirty Picture (2011). Most recently, she appeared in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024).
