Tillotama Shome’s Baksho Bondi: Shadowbox to Open Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025
Illustration by Sunil Kumar
After asserting its authority at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival, Baksho Bondi: Shadowbox, starring Tillotama Shome, is all set to open the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025.
About the Film: Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox
- Title: Baksho Bondi: Shadowbox
- Lead Cast: Tillotama Shome, Jim Sarbh
- Supporting Cast:
- Chandan Bisht as Sundar
- Sayan Karmakar as Debu
- Suman Saha as Ripon
- Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
- Language: Bengali
- Directors: Tanushree Das & Saumyananda Sahi (Debut)
- Release Date: February 16, 2025
- Genre: Drama
Previously, the film gained acclaim for its powerful performances and subject matter at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival.
IFFM 2025 Opening Night Premiere
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, starting on August 14, will open with the Australian premiere of Baksho Bondi: Shadowbox. The film headlines a showcase of daring and emotional stories from India.
According to the official statement, the movie sets the tone for an anthology of heartwarming tales to be celebrated at the event.
Tillotama Shome on the Film’s Journey
Tillotama Shome shared her reflections on portraying the character Maya:
“Baksho Bondi is very, very dear to my heart. Maya taught me the value of listening to silences, of finding strength in small but committed acts, and how silent persistence can shape the lives of women who are often ignored in this noisy world.”
She added:
“To even add to the emotional whirlwind of Berlin is the opportunity to bring Maya’s story to Melbourne, Australia.”
Festival Director’s Statement
Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Director of IFFM, praised the film, stating:
“It’s a privilege to open the IFFM 2025 with Baksho Bondi: Shadowbox, a film that underlines the might of independent cinema and celebrates stories that resonate beyond boundaries and cultures.”
She also applauded the cast as being “not short of extraordinary” and expressed excitement for the Australian audience to experience the film on Opening Night.
Plot Summary: Baksho Bondi – Shadowbox
Set in contemporary Bengali society, the story revolves around:
- Maya, a resilient mother to a teenage son
- Her husband, a man suffering from PTSD
The plot takes a poignant turn when Maya’s husband suddenly disappears, setting her on a journey of emotional turmoil, discovery, and quiet strength.
