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Restored classic Badnaam Basti to lead Pride Night at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

Restored classic Badnaam Basti to lead Pride Night at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

Time of India23-07-2025
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 is set to spotlight LGBTQ+ narratives with a landmark Pride Celebratory Night on August, featuring the restored version of
Badnaam Basti
—India's first-ever LGBTQ-themed film, originally released in 1971.
Now in its 16th year, IFFM has cemented its place as the largest Indian film festival held outside India, recognised for championing diversity, inclusion, and cultural dialogue. Backed by the Government of Victoria, Australia, this year's edition will screen close to 75 films, focusing on themes including gender, sexuality, disability, race, and women's representation.
The
Pride Night
promises to be a poignant tribute to queer cinema and South Asian LGBTQ+ identity in Australia. The rare screening of
Badnaam Basti
—a film long lost in cinematic history—will honour its pioneering legacy, followed by the Australian premiere of
We Are Faheem and Karun
, a tender queer love story directed by acclaimed filmmaker
Onir
.
Speaking about the initiative, IFFM Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange said, 'At IFFM, we believe cinema has the power to connect and create conversations. This Pride Night is not just about celebrating queer identity but also reclaiming space for LGBTQIA+ narratives in Indian cinema. Through films like
Badnaam Basti
and
We Are Faheem and Karun
, we honour the past and embrace a future of inclusive storytelling.' With its continued focus on representation, IFFM 2025 affirms its commitment to showcasing the full spectrum of human experience on an international platform.
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