Vidya Balan to launch Melb Indian Film Fest

She’s the other ‘Big B’ of the Indian film industry, after superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Vidya Balan will be in Melbourne on 11 and 12 May to launch the program of the 2012 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Balan was named the Festival’s brand ambassador by Victoria’s Premier Ted Baillieu when he visited India earlier this year.

In Melbourne, Vidya will launch the program of this year’s Film Festival, which runs from June 11-22.

Says Mitu Bhowmick Lange, director of the festival, “We are honoured to welcome the one and only Vidya Balan, one of India’s finest and boldest actress, as the festival’s official ambassador; flying the flag for our exciting Film Festival. As someone who has changed the way women are portrayed on screen in India, she is the true embodiment of a festival that endeavours to showcase the sheer breadth and evolution of Indian cinema”.

This year the film festival is bigger than ever before – just as it should be, given that the Indian film industry is celebrating its centenary.

“We’ll be screening a dazzling selection of thirty-five films from across India, celebrating the film industry’s dizzying breadth, from “masala” movies to regional art house and even straying across the subcontinent for rare Australian screenings of their cinema,” Bhowmick-Lange reveals.

Starting with Vidya Balan’s Kahaani on opening night, Bollywood buffs can get to see blockbusters Agneepath, Delhi Belly, Bodyguard, Don 2, Ra.One, Rockstar, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Singham, Vicky Donor, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, as well as new releases Ishqzaade and Teri Meri Kahani. In the list of “thinking” cinema, there’s Paan Singh Tomar, Shaitan, Stanley Ka Dabba, I Am Kalaam, Michael etc Beyond Bollywood, there’s Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam), Baboo Band Baaja and Balgandharva (Marathi), Bettada Jeeva (Kannada), Laptop (Bengali), Nanban (Tamil) and Virodi (Telugu) to name a few.

From across the border, the crowd puller will be Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s Oscar-winning documentary Saving Face, as well as Bol from Pakistan, Flying Fish and Chatrak from Sri Lanka, Meherjaan from Bangladesh and Beauty and

Brains from Nepal.

A number of A-list Bollywoodwallahs will be attending including stars Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, film-makers Rituparno Ghosh (whose film Memories in March will close the festival), Kunal Kohli, Jugal Hansraj, Raju Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, Vicky Bahri and fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Tamil star Vijay.

As in previous years, a short film contest is announced this year as well, the theme being ‘Connections’. Judges include Indian film-makers Raju Hirani, Kabir Khan, Kunal Kohli and Aussie broadcaster Mick Molloy. The Western Union Short Film Competition is open to filmmakers from India, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the winning entries will be screened at Hoyts during the festival, and shortly on SBS.

A new addition this year is the Masterclass: four seminars will aim to create greater dialogue between Indian and Victorian film practitioners. These include Raju Hirani and Abhijat Joshi’s ‘Thinking Through Laughter’ (they should know this, given they made 3 Idiots and Munnabhai respectively); Sabyasachi’s ‘Talking Through Fabric’; Jugal Hansraj’s ‘Animation: Possible Co-Productions’ and a panel discussion on possible collaborations.

“There’s something for everyone this time again!” the bubbly Mitu Bhowmick Lange observes with a laugh.

Vidya concurs, “Many people do not realise just how broad the reach of Indian cinema is; how many genres and styles it produces. If I can help introduce Australian movie lovers to the incredible industry I’m so proud to play a small part in, then I’m happy”.

After launching the program on 11 May, Vidya will meet fans at a special screening of her film The Dirty Picture at Hoyts Melbourne Central. She will introduce her awardwinning film. On 12 May, fans will get another opportunity to see Vidya at the MCG, where she will present the match ball to umpires in the middle of the ground, just before the Richmond v Sydney match.