Tillotama Shome’s Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox To Open IFFM 2025 After Acclaimed Berlin Premiere

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 will commence with the Australian premiere of the Bengali film "Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox." This film, starring Tillotama Shome and co-produced by Shome and Jim Sarbh, had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival 2025. It was featured in the Perspective section there.

Co-directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, "Baksho Bondi" marks their directorial debut. The film is set in a dusty suburb of Kolkata and features Tillotama Shome as Maya. It tells a compelling story of love, resilience, and the quiet strength of a working woman navigating her daily life.

Festival Highlights Indian Cinema

The festival's Opening Night screening is slated for August 14th in Melbourne. This event will set the tone for celebrating bold, layered, and deeply human stories from India throughout the festival. The IFFM is known for showcasing films that reflect the depth and diversity of Indian storytelling across languages and platforms.

Tillotama Shome expressed her connection to the film by saying, "Baksho Bondi is incredibly close to my heart. 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."

Celebrating Women's Strength

Shome further shared her excitement about bringing Maya's story to Melbourne. She noted that it feels special due to Mitu Bhowmick Lange's spirit of inclusion as the festival director. The film serves as a tribute to working women and their courage that persists even when unnoticed.

Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Director of IFFM, remarked on the significance of opening with "Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox." She stated, "We are honoured to open IFFM 2025 with Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox, a film that exemplifies the strength of Indian independent cinema while touching on themes that are deeply personal and globally relatable."

Commitment to Authentic Storytelling

Lange praised Tillotama Shome's performance as Maya as extraordinary. She also commended Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi for crafting an honest and visually stunning film resonating with resilience and hope. The festival takes pride in showcasing such cinema.

"Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox" reinforces IFFM's dedication to presenting stories rooted in real-life experiences while embracing cinematic storytelling's power. This makes it an ideal start for the 2025 edition.

A Celebration Beyond Borders

In its 16th year, IFFM stands as the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside India. Supported by the Victorian Government, this year's festival runs from August 14 to 24. It will culminate with the highly anticipated IFFM Awards Night on August 15, honouring excellence across film and OTT categories.