Karan Johar and Rani Mukerji have been selected to deliver a keynote speech at the Australian Parliament House on August 13, just before the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which begins on August 15. Their address will focus on “cinema’s power to bridge cultures and unite audiences across geographical boundaries” .
Rani Mukerji expressed her pride in representing the Indian film fraternity, emphasizing the global impact of Indian cinema, which includes films from various regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and more. She highlighted how Indian films bring joy and color to people’s lives worldwide .
Karan Johar shared his excitement about the opportunity, noting the significance of the event in recognizing the cultural influence of Indian cinema. He expressed gratitude for the invitation and the chance to celebrate the rich legacy of Indian storytelling .
The keynote address by Johar and Mukerji marks a milestone in acknowledging Indian cinema’s growing global influence and the strengthened cultural ties between India and Australia following a recent co-production treaty .
The IFFM, taking place from August 15 to 25, 2024, is one of the largest celebrations of Indian films outside India, further underscoring the festival’s growing significance and recognition.