Melbourne, August morning.

Flew into Melbourne last night. Picked up by Jamie McLellan. We polished a bottle of Honey Jack and nearly choked from laughter. After a stop at Dave Wright's Jimmy the Saint I made it to level 46 of 55 Collins for the opening press conference for the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

As I wrote on Instagram: Why does a place feel like home only after I've left it?

IFFM 2015 program reveal @ Indian Consul, 1 July 2015

If I had time to Photoshop I'd put Mitu's face on the choo-choo.

A lot of important things were discussed at Wednesday's program launch of the 2015 Indian Film Festival Melbourne (IFFM). Themes of freedom and equality in Indian cinema, the revolutionary 'girl power' displayed in the animated Burka Avenger series out of Pakistan, Bollywood's role in the transformation of Indian society, even the predictably polarising subject of sexuality on the big screen.

What struck me throughout the afternoon press conference at the Consulate General of India, however, was the impossible task Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange and her trailblazing team at Mind Blowing Films faced this year. Last year's IFFM boasted the most beloved star in the Indian universe, Amitabh Bachchan. Even today that sentence beggars belief. Did Bollywood superstar and Indian demi-god Amitabh Bachchan really come to Melbourne last year and participate in a variety of IFFM events, the finale being his appearance at the first-ever IFFM Awards in front of a packed and rapturous Princess Theatre? Did that actually happen?

Yeah, it did. And it was life-changing for all involved.

Time marches inexorably on, of course, and I imagine Mitu & Co. were daunted by the task of starting from scratch and gearing up for 2015's followup. But, like the words of the Little Engine That Could every American kid has programmed into his/her head -- "I think I can, I think I can ..." -- Mitu and her colleagues have pushed aside the weight of heightened expectations and delivered a festival bound to resonate in Australia, India and beyond.

Again.

Madhabi Mukherjee in Satyajit Ray's 'Charulata'

I'll be posting more in the coming weeks about 2015 IFFM offerings before it kicks off Friday 14 August with a screening of Prashant Nair's Umrika, a World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award winner at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. (Festival tickets go on sale 15 July.) As mentioned, Wednesday's press conference was held at the Indian Consulate on leafy St Kilda Road. No glitz, no glam, introduced eloquently by Consul General Manika Jain, the highlight for most was the magnitude of starpower coming to Melbourne: Anil Kapoor and his daughter Sonam, Kangana Ranaut, Imran Khan, Simi Garewal, Rajkumar Hirani and many others.

If those names mean nothing to you, here's a quick primer: Anil Kapoor's an East/West acting legend who's been a household name in India for 30 years. Sonam Kapoor's an actress on the rise whose fashion-sense lands her on magazine covers and outspokenness gives entertainment industry writers bahut headlines. Kangana Ranaut, an attendee of last year's festival, starred in one of 2014's biggest hits (Queen) and the 2015 blockbuster Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Imran Khan's a heart-throb who hails from Bollywood royalty (he's the nephew of Aamir Khan, a genius whose work you REALLY ought to know). Simi Garewal's a living legend who's been a radiant presence at the last two IFFMs. Rajkumar Hirani is back as well. He's only a writer/director with a string of box office success unmatched by anyone. Anywhere. In any market.

Kangana at IFFM 2014.

A truly astounding collection of talent and celebrity. And that's only a small pool of people on their way to Melbourne next month.

Living in Australia means finding many products, services, destinations and just about everything else claiming to be the 'Southern Hemisphere's greatest ...' but what we enjoy in Melbourne every year is verifiably the Southern Hemisphere's greatest annual celebration of Indian cinema.

For 2015, here's verification:

• An opening weekend that intentionally coincides with Indian Independence Day on 15 August. Both the Consul General and Mitu were especially proud to announce a flag-raising ceremony will be held at Federation Square to mark the occasion, followed by the always popular Bollywood dance competition.
• An equality theme with real, actual teeth: Films and documentaries deemed too controversial to be screened in India on gay and transgender issues, acid attacks on women, and religious charlatans, as perfectly satirised in Aamir Khan's PK.
• Screenings of blockbuster Bollywood films that defy East/West categorisation ... they're simply great films. In other words: They're safe for white people! You'll love 'em!
• The usual mix of arthouse and indie films that consistently exceed expectations and nearly always teach this child of the West as much as they entertain. 
• Films from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and other parts of the world where people live and love and lose and have stories worth sharing. 
• A showcase of India's greatest films, including screenings of digitally remaster classics by legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
• A closing night world premiere of Kabir Khan's Phantom starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Choo! Choo!

Consul General Manika Jain makes opening remarks.

I look forward to snapping photos of Anil Kapoor standing both in the flesh and in closer proximity to Mitu next month.

Press conference crowd.

As always, I was struck by Mitu's ability to teach as well as promote. She wears her passion for all things Indian cinema on her sleeve but it's the wisdom behind her passion that lingers.

Vidya Balan & Mitu Bhowmick Lange @ 2015 IFFM curtain raiser, 10 April 2015

In Vidya Balan's multiple award-winning 'The Dirty Picture', a caricature of an aging Indian cinema hero named Surya -- who sees nothing wrong with an actress playing his lover in one film and his mother in the next -- makes the following declaration:

A heroine's life is like an elected government: The party lasts for 5 years. After that it's there for support.

'The Dirty Picture' may have been set in the '80s but until recently it would have been easy to say nothing's changed. Bollywood's leading men continue to woo women half their age, while the heroines they pursued at the start of their careers play mothers or get trundled out of the industry entirely. It's a man's game in front of the camera, behind the lens and in Mumbai's skyscrapers of power.

But there are signs Indian cinema is being dragged into the 21st century, and two of those pulling the hardest were together again in a Melbourne skyscraper on Friday morning to 'raise the curtain' on the 2015 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

Luckily, so was I.

For the third year in a row Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange stood before gathered press, dignitaries and invited guests and introduced Balan as IFFM's ambassador. As usual they proclaimed their shared vision and dedication to the diversity of Indian cinema, but this year I got a visceral sense of the profundity of their partnership. What other film star takes such a personal stake in a film festival nearly 10,000 kms from her home? What organiser has the moxie to build a successful Indian-based film festival in a city where Indian films barely make a dent? Their name recognition may differ but their courage and conviction do not, and I'd venture to say they inspire each other to force the change that needs to happen if Indian cinema is to remain relevant and vibrant to its worldwide audience.

A greaseball like Surya would find his ass whipped six ways to Sunday if he crossed either of their paths. As a joined force Vidya and Mitu could defeat an army of Suryas. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a show I'd pay good money to see.

Melbourne sparkled in every direction on a perfect autumn morning. 

Mitu welcomed Vidya at the elevators. By the time they walked through the doors of a meet and greet session they looked and sounded like reunited sisters.

Prior to the press conference, Vidya exchanged gifts with a Liberal minister named Martin Foley. When asked about continued funding for the IFFM, the new minister assured support from the Australian government would be forthcoming. He and his government will be held to those words.

The fourth IFFM will be the first to feature a theme: equality. Vidya praised Mitu for 'adding a social nerve core' to the festival, 'not something that comes instinctively' in an industry mostly concerned with commercial success. Vidya expressed satisfaction with the increased scope of the 2015 IFFM and hoped it would lead to a growing 'footfall of non-Indian Australians' at the festival. She went on to implore festival-goers to 'bring their families, friends, colleagues ... their DOGS' along with them. I bet the big cheese of cinema chain Hoyts, who was in attendance, got a kick out of that remark.

During a Q&A that was blessedly free of personal questions, an audience member noted the symbolism of Vidya and Mitu being the driving forces behind the IFFM in a patriarchal industry and culture. A wonderful point, and -- perhaps -- a symbol of the overdue respect Vidya's earned as a conscientious woman in the film industry. I've been to all three of Vidya's IFFM press conferences and this was the first to be free of cringeworthy commentary or asinine prying. Another sign of progress. Vidya jokingly referred to herself as the 'biggest ambassador for Melbourne' and said she was 'trying to convince everyone I know to shoot a film in Melbourne.' Asked for her top memories of IFFM, Mitu described Vidya's historic visit to the MCG in 2012 and how she 'floored' TV-personality Eddie McGuire during a live interview.

She also described Amitabh Bachchan taking a selfie (left) from the stage of last year's inaugural IFFM Awards Night and how it made her feel truly at home in Melbourne for the first time. As someone lucky enough to be seated two rows behind the screen legend, and who witnessed the sometimes terrifying degree devotees will go to express their love for a man they've never met but carry in their hearts like a living embodiment of their homeland, I can't begin to imagine what was going through Mitu's mind as the crowd shouted his name and Mr Bachchan -- Amitabh freakin' Bachchan -- playfully snapped a photo of himself on the stage of Melbourne's Princess Theatre. Besides feeling at home, I'd hope she'd also be thinking something along the lines of ... 'I did this.'

Vidya is every inch the movie star yet comes across as both whipsmart and personable. Mitu repeatedly thanked her for raising the 'credibility and visibility' of the IFFM to where it's now in the 'top two or three' Indian film festivals in the world. That's a remarkable accomplishment in such a small market. Mitu said the equality theme would encompass 'gender, race, sexuality and disability' and the August festival would feature a fashion show and recognition of Indian Independence Day on 15 August. She also said a festival program would be out in June. After thanking IFFM's loyal sponsors, Mitu praised her staff at Mind Blowing Films, who work tirelessly to make her vision real.

I'd also like to thank Mitu and everyone at Mind Blowing Films for the kindness they've shown me over the years. A more earnest and committed group you will never find.

Konkona Sen Sharma IFFM masterclass 9 May 2014

Konkona Sen Sharma at the lectern.

The first question you'll hear when a new face appears in Indian cinema is not "How's her acting?" but "Who's her parents?" 'Royalty' is probably the most accurate way to describe the handful of families who've dominated Indian movie screens for 100 years, the most famous being the Kapoors of Bollywood, and it's rare that a child born into such fame doesn't milk their family's fame for all its worth -- often to the detriment of movie audiences made to watch untalented progeny prove the limitationss of genetics.

Which makes Konkona Sen Sharma, who presented an Indian Film Festival of Melbourne masterclass last night entitled 'Arthouse vs Mainstream', a freak.

A wonderfully candid, bold and humble freak.

During an hour-long presentation that she insisted was not a 'lecture' but a recounting of her 34-year-old life's journey, the diminutive Konkona described an almost accidental rise to fame that could have easily seen her land in in "shallow and urbans" professions like advertising or journalism. Despite her mom being Bengali cinema legend Arparna Sen -- and despite making her film debut at the age of three (as a boy, no less) -- Konkona was at first apathetic about the opportunities provided by her lineage. She took film roles while in college more out of detriment to family friends than drive. Her first Bengali mainstream film was based on a "spectacularly bad" Hollywood film that eventually proved valuable in unexpected fashion: Konkona began to feel sorry for her character, discovering the importance of empathy when preparing for roles that are otherwise "best forgotten".

It was after dropping out of a "depressing" MA program that Konkona's acting career took off, beginning with 2002's 'Mr. and Mrs. Iyer'. Konkona revealed that her mom, who directed it, "tricked" her into taking the film's lead role, but she subsequently "really enjoyed the experience" of making it. The film was a major critical success and led to Konkona receiving a National Film Award for Best Actress. It was at this time she learned another important lesson: The more detached an actor is from a film set, the better his/her performance.

'Mr. and Mrs. Iyer' also set the template for Konkona's career: Finely crafted and critically acclaimed 'small films' with little starpower and, therefore, smaller production budgets. Konkona summed up the resulting wisdom as "life is hard when you make unconventional choices", a lesson she's no doubt had re-instilled across her 40+ films career. Halfway through the presentation I couldn't help but be amazed at how Konkona's film career was the very embodiment of a 'Arthouse vs Mainstream' masterclass, and how radical she must be received by peers for calling her Bengali films her "real children" (vs the others' "stepchildren") in an industry more obsessed with overnight box office receipts than quality cinema.

Especially refreshing in an industry rife with agent-mandated humility was the way Konkona described how doing a mix of arthouse/mainstream, Hindi/Bengali films was an "holistic experience". Coming from another actor's mouth these words could be met with skepticism but Konkona's obvious passion for creating an individual niche and following her own heart, whatever the cost, couldn't be denied.

I wish her luck on her continuing journey. And hope like hell she ends up in a director's chair and attains the power to share her vision WITHOUT COMPROMISE.

IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange with Konkona during a vibrant Q&A.

Telstra Bollywood Dance Comp @ Fed Square, 4 May 2014

Grey skies and rain couldn't dampen the high spirits of dancers, spectators and judges at yesterday's Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition at Fed Square. The event is a signature part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which is on through May 11th.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange served as MC for the event. 

Dancers who've already performed watch the competition.

This year's judges: Avtar Panesar, VP of Int'l Operations at Yash Raj Films; Indian dance icon Malaika Arora Khan; 'Dhoom 3' director Vijay Krishna Acharya.

Grey skies threatened. It's May in Melbourne. No way around it.

This looks like the poster for an action movie called 'THE JUDGES'.

Malaika's stunning.

Malaika announces the first winner, a lovely girl named Sanjana.

Sanjana onstage with Mitu and the judges.

Classical dancer Elise Ford-Watson was another winner.

Top prize winners Sapphire Dance and Shiamak Davar Academy join the judges.

A masterclass on IFFM Masterclasses

There's an expression in the States used to measure a professional athlete's ability to increase his/her team's attendance: "Do they put butts in seats?"

In the world of film festivals -- and nearly everything else entertainment-related -- celebrities put butts in seats. Movie stars, especially.

This year's Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has thus far had no shortage of glamour. Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Simi Garewal and Malaika Arora Khan have drawn crowds and cheers wherever they've traveled in and around Melbourne, and for good reason. There's something unquestionably magical about seeing a face from the big screen in person, and I count myself as lucky for having seen all these people up close.

But I'm going to let you in on a secret: IFFM's most unique experiences occur during masterclasses.

As a matter of fact, I can unequivocally state that attending Kabir Khan's masterclass at IFFM 2013 on going from fact to fiction reverberated in my brain for weeks afterwards. Not due to Kabir's showmanship -- he belongs behind a camera, not before it -- but his generous sharing of knowledge gained in an industry he now sits atop. As I wrote last year: "As is the case with most creatives, given a microphone in a roomful of people who shared his passion for filmmaking he was soon off to the races discussing his history in the industry." Hearing Kabir humbly describe the personal journey that became 'Kabul Express' and the making of super-hit 'Ek Tha Tiger' was priceless. That he was doing it for an intimate crowd of mostly budding filmmakers in Australia was remarkable.

While it was more of a presentation than masterclass, Simi Garewal's discussion of the evolution of women in Indian cinema at the Univ of Melbourne was memorable for Simi's poise and perspective on an industry she's been part of for over 40 years. She spoke in the more formal setting of a lecture hall but kept the packed room rapt with examples of Indian cinema's often deplorable depiction of women. She also displayed a diplomat's patience when peppered with personal questions, a skill no doubt honed by decades of living a life beneath a Bollywood microscope.

This year's masterclasses are especially appealing to me. I've spent the past few years researching and writing a screenplay involving my wife's Indo-Fijian family and have wrestled with the multi-lingual dialogue issues. I'm therefore eager to attend tonight's 'Power of Dialogue' masterclass by Suhasini Maniratnam, who hails from South India and has penned dialogues in three languages in almost 100 films. After seeing box office hit '2 States', which details the cultural struggles of a couple from Chennai (south) and Delhi (north), it seems Indian cinema may be opening to films whose characters speak in multiple languages. Or, not. Perhaps that's a question for Suhasini ......

The other masterclass is FREE and called 'Arthouse vs Mainstream'. Like Simi's presentation it's being held at the Univ of Melbourne (Friday, 9 May @ 6:00pm) and features Konkona Sen Sharma, who's won a National Film Award and is considered a leading actress of contemporary parallel cinema.

You should be at both. I know I will.

IFFM Awards Night @ Princess Theatre 2 May 2014

Looking out over a packed house at Melbourne's Princess Theatre Friday night, John Molloy, co-director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, described a challenge issued by Simi Garewal at the conclusion of last year's IFFM. Simi, who's worn many hats during her 50-year-career in Indian film and TV and is a member of the IFFM's advisory board, acknowledged the growth of the festival but wanted to know, in effect, 'Now what?' John let it slip to being "terrified" of the elegant 'Lady in White' but understood that the festival did, in fact, need to take another big step. But how? Where to? What was next?

Those of us in attendance at the inaugural Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards Night knew exactly what Simi's challenge wrought: A rousing evening that paid tribute to the best of Bollywood and Melbourne's vibrant Indian culture.

And gave grown men and women a chance to holler for attention at the always dignified Amitabh Bachchan . (More on that in a future blog post.)

Here's a chronological look at the night's highlights:

Aradhna and I had seats in the middle of the 4th row, which put us 3 rows behind Mr Bachchan and in the middle of pre-show hubbub. Going clockwise: Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange greeting VIPs; an unintentional yet strangely appropriate shot of Mr Bachchan entering the theatre via a side door; a Christian Dior-attired Kangana Ranaut standing beside a seated Ted Baillieu (former Victorian premier); Mr Bachchan taking his seat in the dark to thunderous shouting and applause; women looking radiant in saris; the view of Mr Bachchan from my seat.

After a bit of comedy from MC Jehan Ratnatunga, Raina Devi Sundaram and Govind Pillai of Karma Dance made traditional Indian dance look like an Olympic event.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange.

Short film competition judges Vijay Acharya and Paul Cox. Vijay had announced the winners, Abhishek Verma's 'Chasni' and Don Percy's 'Makeover' at a morning press conference. Cox prefaced his remarks by saying tongue in cheek that he'd just returned from filming in the subcontinent and that it "feels like India is taking over the world." He also said Indian cinema "makes you believe in film again." Amen, Mr Cox.

Director Don Percy accepts his award for 'Makeover' from Monica Khanna of Western Union, sponsor of the short film competition. 'Chasni' director Abhishek Verma is based in India and couldn't accept his award in person.

Alistair Park of IFFM sponsor Telstra (he's the -- surprise! -- tall white guy in this photo) presents 'Dhoom 3' producers Vijay Acharya, Avtar Panesar and their colleagues with the People's Choice Award for highest grossing Indian film in Australia for 2013. Dhoom 3 earned $1.7 million.

In what was a recurring theme of the evening, Vijay Acharya addressed Mr Bachchan directly while accepting his award. He referred to Big B as the "original Vijay", and said the Indian cinema legend is the reason he chose a career in film.

Melbourne's Bombay Royale provided funky and exceptionally fashionable entertainment.

Introducing the awards portion of the night, festival co-director John Molloy describes the upside to being terrified by Simi Garewal.

Director Ritesh Batra accepts Best Indie Film award for 'The Lunch Box'.

Class act Farhan Akhtar, who won Best Actor for his superhuman (literally -- take a look at the guy's torso) performance in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', sent a video acceptance speech.

Kangana Ranaut takes the stage after winning Best Actress for 'Queen'.

The camera loves Kangana.

Kangana presents Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra with a Best Director award for 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'.

Not surprisingly, 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' captured Best Film, too.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra had every right to give the night's longest speeches: he'd flown from the IIFA Awards in Tampa, Florida to accept his awards for 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and had to leave immediately for India afterwards. In my opinion, that reflects the personal connection Mitu's made with the Indian cinema community.

Love this photo of Mitu watching from the wings.

A dance troupe from Shiamak gave a performance especially designed for Mr Bachchan. He later said he was glad dancers like this weren't around when he was a young man -- he didn't think he could mimic their hip movements.

Simi Garewal asked "How do you dissect a legend?" at the start of her introduction of Amitabh Bachchan and was rewarded with a roar when she admitted, "When he's on screen I can't look at anyone else." Simi nearly brought the house down when she concluded by saying, "There are actors. There are stars. And there is Amitabh Bachchan!"

Mr Bachchan strides to the podium.

He accepts International Screen Icon Award from Victorian parliament member Heidi Victoria.

As he did at the night before prior to a screening of 'Sholay 3D', Mr Bachchan recited a dialogue from 'Kabhi Kabhie' (see video below).

Mitu explained how she'd experienced the best morning of her life when LaTrobe University presented an Indian student with an annual scholarship worth $200K in Mr Bachchan's honour.

Even in shadows, Mr Bachchan looms large.

Realising everyone in the room was lusting for a photo with Big B, Mitu gathered everyone back on stage and had photographers take shots with the crowd in the background.

A man of such dignity shouldn't be bombarded by shouts from boorish 'fans' seeking his attention.

Mr Bachchan taking a selfie.

Check out Ritesh Batra snapping Mr Bachchan's photo.

Bombay Royale closed out the night in style.