One of the most exciting things about Indian cinema is that it isn’t one industry. It is a constellation of languages, cultures, landscapes and storytelling traditions. Each region brings its own rhythm, its own humour and its own way of looking at the world. At the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne , this variety shines through the moment you step into the theatres. You realise very quickly that Indian cinema is not a single voice. It is many voices speaking together.
Marathi films often feel intimate. Malayalam cinema carries a calm strength and a deep sense of honesty. Tamil cinema moves between stillness and spectacle with ease. Assamese stories hold on to the quiet beauty of nature. Bengali cinema continues its long relationship with thoughtful storytelling. And this is only a part of the landscape. Manipuri, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi and so many others add their own colours.
Over the last few years, the festival has not just shown this diversity. It has celebrated it.
In 2023, regional films left a real mark.
- Aatma Pamphlet (Marathi) brought a gentle, heartfelt look at growing up.
- Tora’s Husband (Assamese) explored the trials of balancing work and family.
- Baakki Vannavar (Malayalam) added to the festival’s ongoing relationship with grounded Malayali storytelling
In 2024, regional cinema continued to reach international audiences through IFFM.
- Kaathal – The Core (Malayalam) touched viewers with its emotional honesty.
- Kabuliwala (Bengali) brought a classic tale back into conversation.
- The Marathi documentary Bhangaar carried a raw intensity that stayed with people long after it ended.
By 2025, regional cinema wasn’t just part of the festival. It led it.
- IFFM opened with Baksho Bondi (Bengali) , a film that follows a woman navigating the weight of her home and her life with quiet resilience.
- Tamil cinema shone with Angammal , which won Best Indie Film for its beautifully rooted village narrative.
- Manipuri cinema made an impact with Boong , especially through its standout lead performance.
At IFFM, these films don’t just fill time slots. They expand the way we think about Indian cinema. They draw viewers into languages they may never have heard and places they may never have visited. They remind audiences that emotion has no language barrier.
For many visitors, these screenings become a doorway into a world they didn’t know they were missing. For filmmakers, the festival becomes a bridge that carries their stories across oceans.
Regional cinema has always been the soul of India’s filmmaking. Over the last three years, IFFM has helped that soul shine even brighter. It has shown that every language has a story worth sharing and every region offers something new to discover.
