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Mind Blowing Entertainment has announced that MY MELBOURNE, a unique anthology feature film interweaving four powerful stories exploring sexuality, gender, race and disability, shot and situated in Melbourne, releases into Australian cinemas on March 6, and in India on March 14. It is the first Australian film to be distributed in India since 2016.
Producer Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM said: “It’s been almost ten since an Australian film has been released in India so we are absolutely delighted that the film will be screening in more than 22 cities across the country.”
MY MELBOURNE is a truly inclusive feature film, celebrating diverse voices and talents. Four of India’s finest filmmakers – Kabir Khan, Onir, Rimas Das, and Imtiaz Ali – worked with emerging creatives from under-represented backgrounds to create this film about identity and belonging based on authentic migrant experience.
Each of the film’s four narratives are Inspired by true stories or lived experiences, and together create a portrait of life in today’s multi-cultural Melbourne. From the early stages of writing to the final cut, the Indian directors and their professional teams mentored the local cast and crew, and were in Melbourne for each of the shoots.
Featuring in the films are acclaimed Australian actors Kat Stewart (OFFSPRING), and Arka Das (LION), cricket coach and legendary player Brad Hodge, Hindi star Arushi Sharma, Nathan Borg -the first deaf actor to appear in Neighbours, and a number of exciting new talents, such as Afghanistan refugee and budding cricket star Setara Amiri, each playing roles close to their own lived experiences.
The title track of MY MELBOURNE is sung by Janaki Eshwar, known for being the youngest contestant on ‘The Voice Australia’ and a highly accomplished singer, and Parvyn Kaur Singh, the former frontwoman of the cult band, The Bombay Royale. The second track, Azadi, has been sung in both Hindi and Dari by Aryana Sayeed, who is one of Afghanistan’s most loved and inspiring singers and activists, dubbed ‘the Taylor Swift of Afghanistan’.
Producer Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM said: “Our goal for ‘My Melbourne’ is not only to create an entertaining feature film that is authentic, contemporary, honest and relevant but also to discover and nurture the next generation of underrepresented diverse filmmakers and their unique stories. Working with some of the most respected filmmakers in the world, our local creatives have learnt from the best without compromising on their cultural and authentic narrative styles.
‘MY MELBOURNE’ STORIES
NANDINI
Inspired by true events with the theme of gender
Bengali/English
DIRECTOR: ONIR
CO-DIRECTOR: WILLIAM DUAN
CONCEPT BY: GREGORY FRANCIS
SCREENPLAY BY: GREGORY FRANCIS AND WILLIAM DUAN
STARRING: ARKA DAS, JACKSON GALLAGER, MOULI GANGULY
Synopsis: A story of grief and forgiveness, NANDINI follows the reunion of a queer Indian man, Indraneel and his father Mihir after many years of estrangement. The pair are thrust together again when Mihir comes from India to complete the Asthi Visarjan ash spreading ceremony after the passing of his late wife, Indraneel’s mother.
JULES
Inspired by true events with the theme of gender
Hindi/English
DIRECTOR: IMTIAZ ALI
CO-DIRECTOR: TAMMY YANG
CONCEPT BY: MITU BHOWMICK LANGE AM
SCREENPLAY: ARIF ALI, SHIVANGI BHOWMICK AND MONIQUE NAIR
STARRING: ARUSHI SHARMA, KAT STEWART
Synopsis: Sakshi is a 23-year-old newly married woman who has recently moved to Melbourne Jules is a 52-year-old homeless wanderer with a sharp tongue, a survivor’s spirit and a flair for crossword puzzles and poetry. Their worlds collide on the pavement of St Kilda with unexpected results.
SETARA
Inspired by true events with the theme of race
Dari/English
DIRECTOR: KABIR KHAN
CO-DIRECOR: PUNEET GULATI
CONCEPT AND SCREENPLAY: MONIQUE NAIR AND NAZIFA AMIRI
STARRING: SETARA AMIRI, BRAD HODGE, SEPIDAH FALLAH
Synopsis: Fifteen year old Setara joins a local cricket team as she attempts to rebuild her life in Melbourne after fleeing Taliban rule in Afghanistan with her mother and older sister.
EMMA
Inspired by true events with the theme of disability
Auslan/English
DIRECTOR: RIMA DAS
CO-DIRECTOR: SAMIRA COX
CONCEPT AND SCREENPLAY : SAMIRA COX AND MONIQUE NAIR
STARRING: NATHAN BORG, RYNNA LAWSON, MIKHAELA EBONY
Synopsis: Emma is a talented deaf dancer living with Usher Syndrome in her early 20s with increasing doubts about her sense of self and her prospects of a career in professional dance. Since childhood, she has dreamed of being a dancer but industry discrimination and other attitudes are holding her back. Despite the support of her family and friends it is not until she meets Nathan, a highly successful deaf dancer who is at peace with himself that she regains her self belief.
