‘Shadowbox’ Set to Illuminate Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
Bengali Drama Opens Festival with Australian Premiere
The 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will commence its cinematic showcase on August 14 with the Australian debut of **Tillotama Shome**โs poignant Bengali-language drama, โBaksho Bondi โ Shadowbox.โ This marks a significant step for the film, following its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
A Glimpse into Resilience
Co-helmed by directorial newcomers **Tanushree Das** and **Saumyananda Sahi**, the intimate character study delves into the life of Maya, portrayed by **Tillotama Shome** (โSir,โ โDeath in the Gunjโ). Maya juggles multiple demanding jobs while shouldering the care of her husband, Sundar (**Chandan Bisht**), who suffers from PTSD, and their teenage son, Debu (**Sayan Karmakar**). The narrative takes a critical turn when Sundar becomes entangled in a murder investigation, forcing Maya to confront societal biases and her own complex past decisions.
โโBaksho Bondiโ is incredibly close to my heart,โ Shome, who also produced the film, stated. โPlaying Maya was a lesson in listening to silences, in discovering strength in small acts, and in understanding how quiet resilience shapes womenโs lives in a world that often overlooks them.โ
โTillotama Shome, Actor and Producer
The festival’s choice to open with โBaksho Bondiโ underscores its dedication to championing independent regional cinema. According to UNESCO, India produces over 2,000 feature films annually, highlighting the vast landscape of stories waiting to be shared globally (UNESCO, 2018).
A Celebration of Diverse Voices
Festival director **Mitu Bhowmick Lange** described the film as an ideal beginning for the 2025 edition. She praised **Shome**โs performance as โextraordinaryโ and commended **Das** and **Sahi** for their creation of a film that is โtender, honest, and visually stunning,โ resonating with themes of resilience and hope.
IFFM’s regional program features a rich tapestry of Indian cinema, including **Rima Das**โs acclaimed โVillage Rockstars 2,โ a Busan winner that follows a teenage guitarist navigating family duties and musical ambitions. Fasil Muhammedโs โFeminichi Fathimaโ centers on a Ponnani housewife whose quest to replace a mattress becomes a powerful symbol of personal liberation.
Further highlights include Aranya Sahayโs โHumans in the Loop,โ focusing on an Adivasi woman working as an AI data labeler. **Lakshmipriya Devi**โs โBoong,โ an Asia Pacific Screen Award winner, chronicles a Manipur boyโs search for his absent father. **Onir**โs โWe Are Faheem & Karunโ explores a clandestine romance within a remote Kashmiri village.
Vipin Radhakrishnanโs Tamil-language film โAngammalโ tells the story of a city-bred man embarrassed by his motherโs traditional attire, while veteran filmmaker **Goutam Ghose**โs โParikramaโ weaves together the narratives of an Italian documentarian and a displaced Indian village boy along the Narmada River.
Supported by the Victorian Government, IFFM will run until August 24, culminating in an awards ceremony on August 15 that recognizes achievements across film and streaming categories. The festival continues its mission to be the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside of India, showcasing the vibrant diversity of contemporary Indian storytelling.