Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2018 started on Friday and many Bollywood celebs like Rani Mukerji, Rajkumar Hirani, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha, Noorani, Freida Pinto and Ali Fazal are in Melbourne to attend the festival.
Just a couple of days before 15th August, Rani got the honour of hoisting the Indian National Flag at the Federation Square in Melbourne in the presence of Indian and Australian students, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and IFFM director Mitu Lange. The Indian National Anthem was playing in the background and after the flag hoisting everyone said ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Rani was in a chiffon floral printed saree with an off-white shawl on top of it.
There were 10,000 people at the Square and talking about the honour Rani said, “I think it’s a matter of honour for anyone to hoist their national flag. And the fact that I’m doing it in Australia so far away from home is even more special and makes it more patriotic. I’m humbled that this honour’s been bestowed upon me by Mitu and the Victorian government so I must thank them. I have had the love of the audiences for the last 22 years and it’s that love that has got me here today. So I must thank the audiences the most. I most remember the patriotic song from my father’s film Hum Hindustani, ‘Chodo Kal Ki Batein’. I really miss him here today.”
Here’s the video.
60 films in 22 languages will be screened in the film festival over the next two weeks. The festival started with the screening of Tabrez Noorani’s film on sex trafficking ‘Love Sonia’
Speaking about the occasion, Australian Minister of Creative Industry, Martin Foley said, “This year’s festival is expected to attract more than 35,000 people to events across Melbourne, bringing together diverse communities through a shared love of film. Alongside the film program, there are plenty of ways to get involved from masterclasses to the perennially popular Bollywood Dance Competition.”
Rani Mukerji and Vicky Kaushal also danced with the children from Emotion 21. They danced to the song ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire with the children.
On the professional front, Rani Mukerji made her comeback with ‘Hichki’. We feel really proud that Rani got the honour to hoist the national flag.
