Tillotama Shome‘s Bengali-language drama “Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox” will open the 16th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) on Aug. 14, marking the film’s Australian premiere following its world bow at the Berlin Film Festival in the Perspectives strand.
The intimate character study, co-directed by first-time helmers Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, stars Shome (“Sir,” “Death in the Gunj”) as Maya, a woman working multiple jobs – from house cleaning to chicken farming to laundry pressing – while caring for her PTSD-affected husband Sundar (Chandan Bisht) and their teenage son Debu (newcomer Sayan Karmakar). When Sundar becomes implicated in a murder investigation, Maya must navigate both societal prejudices and her own complicated past decisions.
“’Baksho Bondi’ is incredibly close to my heart,” Shome, who is also one of the producers of the film, said. “Playing Maya was a lesson in listening to silences, in discovering strength in small acts, and in understanding how quiet resilience shapes women’s lives in a world that often overlooks them.”
The opening night selection signals IFFM’s commitment to championing regional independent cinema, with festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange calling the film “a perfect start for the 2025 edition.”
“Tillotama Shome’s performance as Maya is nothing short of extraordinary, and Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi have crafted a tender, honest, and visually stunning film that resonates with the spirit of resilience and hope,” Lange added.
The festival’s regional slate includes Rima Das’ Busan winner “Village Rockstars 2,” following teenage guitarist Dhunu as she balances family responsibilities with her musical aspirations. Fasil Muhammed’s “Feminichi Fathima” centers on a Ponnani housewife whose attempt to replace a mattress becomes a symbol of independence.
Other selections include “Humans in the Loop,” Aranya Sahay’s drama about a divorced Adivasi woman working as an AI data labeller; Lakshmipriya Devi’s Asia Pacific Screen Award winner “Boong,” about a Manipur boy searching for his absent father; and Onir’s “We Are Faheem & Karun,” exploring a forbidden romance in a remote Kashmiri village.
Tamil-language film “Angammal,” directed by Vipin Radhakrishnan, follows a city-educated man embarrassed by his mother’s traditional dress, while veteran filmmaker Goutam Ghose’s “Parikrama” interweaves the stories of an Italian documentarian and a displaced Indian village boy along the Narmada River.
Running through Aug. 24 with support from the Victorian Government, IFFM will present its awards ceremony on Aug. 15, honoring excellence across film and streaming categories. The festival continues to position itself as the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India, showcasing the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Indian storytelling across languages and platforms.