Reception Party: A Celebration of Cultures
His Excellency Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner to India, hosted a memorable gala dinner that highlighted the rich culinary and cultural connections between Australia and India. The evening was a celebration of cinematic excellence and cultural heritage, featuring a delightful fusion of Aussie and Bengali dishes, complemented by fine wine. The grand ballroom, elegantly adorned with oil paintings of Indian women in regal attire, provided a sophisticated backdrop. Guests enjoyed an array of exquisite delicacies, including poached prawns and raw mango tarts, while champagne flowed amidst the fragrant tuberose decorations.
The reception was graced by prominent figures from the Bengali film industry, including Indian film director Srijit Mukherjee, actress and film producer Rituparna Sengupta, and actor Saswata Chatterjee. Niloy Kanti Biswas of Wackytoon Studio Pvt Ltd also made an impression, discussing his Kolkata-based company’s achievements in global animation. His studio’s work resonates with the success of Australia’s own Animal Logic animation studio, led by film animation pioneer Zareh Nalbandian.
Adding to the event’s prestige, Mitu Bhowmik Lange from the Melbourne Film Festival joined the festivities along with Oscar-winning Australian director Bruce Beresford and his wife. The interactions between the Bengali film stars and Beresford were particularly notable, hinting at future collaborations between Australian and Indian cinema. Discussions included potential joint ventures and the creation of more Australian films like Lion in India.
Australian Presence at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival
The 29th Kolkata International Film Festival, hosted by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department of the Government of West Bengal, showcased 219 films from 39 countries over seven days. Australia, along with Spain, was a country of focus at this year’s festival. The Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film went to Children of Nobody by Erez Tadmor, while Carlos Malave received the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Director for One Way.
I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of the festival, courtesy of Srijit Mukherji. The event featured a star-studded lineup, including Anil Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha, Salman Khan, and Mahesh Bhatt, and drew a crowd of fifty thousand. Australian Consulate Rowan Ainsworth (Kolkata) and Mitu Bhowmik Lange were also present. I had the opportunity to meet local film actor and public relations consultant Rana Basu Thakur, actress Alexandra Taylor, and other rising stars. Our conversation turned to Chris Hemsworth’s Netflix film Extraction, which has resonated deeply with Bengali audiences due to his use of the Bengali phrase “proman dao.”
Throughout the festival, Australian films such as Breaker Morant (1980) were showcased, and a retrospective of Bruce Beresford’s work was highlighted, featuring six of his films. Beresford’s enthusiastic interaction with local media and his first experience at an Indian film festival underscored the strong connection between Indian and Australian film communities. His appreciation for the local enthusiasm further bridged the cultural gap between the two nations.
A particularly innovative highlight was the use of a local tram to promote Australian horror films across different parts of Kolkata. This unique approach not only raised awareness of Australian cinema but also fostered a deeper understanding of Australian films among Indian audiences. Additionally, the recent Satyajit Ray retrospective at the Sydney Film Festival underscored the ongoing cultural exchange between India and Australia.
With Mind Blowing Films planning to introduce more Indian films to Australia—following the success of films like Animal and Pathan—the future looks promising. Productions such as My Melbourne further reflect the expanding scope of Indo-Australian film engagements. As these cultural exchanges continue, they are set to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enrich cultural diversity, and enhance business cooperation between the two countries.
