Bringing Bollywood to Ballarat

INDIA is home one of the largest film industries around the globe.

But if you’re based in regional Victoria, City of Ballarat intercultural ambassador Bobby Mehta said it’s a challenge to access and enjoy a Bollywood movie.

“When I moved here 10 years ago, from a very multicultural place just out of London, I noticed people in Ballarat have to go to Melbourne to watch a Hindi movie,” he said.

“I wanted to change that and bring Bollywood to Ballarat.”

With the support of Regent Cinemas’ Steve Anderson, Mr Mehta has launched the ongoing Ballarat Indian Film Festival, looking after the program schedule and booking all Indian movies shown on site.

“We’re bringing in whatever films we think are going to attract the local Indian community and Aussies coming to watch as well.

“We’ve got a huge film launching on Friday, 9 April; Chehre starring Emraan Hashmi and Bollywood living legend Amitabh Bachchan. We’re having a premiere on the day it’s released, which is going to be awesome, with tickets released on ‘Great’ Friday,” Mr Mehta laughed.

“They’re all subtitled, and Bollywood has moved on in recent years, taking on a lot of different topical issues which appeal to a wider range of people.”

Run on behalf of his charity, Support Motivate and Serve, which is in its 20th anniversary year, the festival is a “real community initiative” in line with the not-for-profit’s values.

“We’ve got a lot of businesses really supporting this throughout Ballarat, helping to share the message, which is fantastic.

“Come along and support the event so we can make it permanent. The films are colourful, dynamic, vibrant, fabulous, lots of fun, and an opportunity for pure escapism,” Mr Mehta said.

Visit facebook.com/BallaratIndianFilmFestival.