IFFM 2022: 83, Jaggi, Mumbai Diaries 26/11 are among top winners

Kabir Khan’s 83 (2021), Anmol Sidhu’s Punjabi film Jaggi, and the Amazon Prime Video web-series Mumbai Diaries 26/11 (2021) are among the top winners at the recently concluded 13th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2022 (IFFM) held at the iconic Palais theatre in the Victorian capital.

The awards night, hosted by Rithvik Dhanjani, ended with in-person event which was attended by actors Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vaani Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Mohit Raina, Mini Mathur, filmmakers Kabir Khan, Shoojit Sircar, Anurag Kashyap, Nikkhil Advani, Suresh Triveni, singer Sona Mohapatra, former captain of Indian cricket team, Kapil Dev, and producers Vikram Malhotra, Shibashish Sarkar, and Sunir Kheterpal.   

The Leadership in Cinema award went to Abhishek Bachchan, while actress Vaani Kapoor was awarded with Disruptor in Cinema award for performance in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021). The team of Jalsa, starring Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, which was directed by Suresh Triveni and produced by Vikram Malhotra of Abundantia Entertainment, was awarded with the Equality in Cinema award. Former Indian captain Kapil Dev, whose maiden victory at the cricket World Cup was immortalized with 83, was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement award.

Ranveer Singh, who was not present for the event, said in a statement, “I thank the jury members at IFFM for bestowing me with the Best Actor of the year for my role as Kapil Dev in 83, one of the most loved films in my career. It’ll always be one of the most cherished films in my filmography. But more than the accolades it's the process of making the film that I cherish the most. I am thankful to Kabir Sir for giving me this opportunity, for guiding me and for inspiring me.”

He added, “I share this honour with the cast and crew of 83 who are so dear to me, and with whom I share [a] very warm bond and I dedicate this honour to Kapil's Devils on whom this story is based; a fine bunch of gentlemen who dared to dream and through their efforts and achievements showed us that we Indians can be the best in the world.”

Vaani Kapoor, who was recently seen in the period drama Shamshera (2022), shared, “It's so special and kind of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and [festival director] Mitu [Bhowmik Lange] to recognise such a film and giving so much dignity, respect and love and accepted it and to have a great inclusion of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui in a film festival. It feels so special and surreal.”

Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan thanked the festival for the honour and stated, “I am extremely ecstatic being considered for this prestigious award by the Victorian Government and the film festival. Even though this award is not for the best actor, I am very much certain to come back to the festival soon enough for the best actor award too as I am certain I'll soon get it.”

This year, the festival is being held both physically and virtually, from 12-20 August.
 
The complete list of winners is below.

Best Documentary - A Night of Knowing Nothing by Payal Kapadia

Best Actor in a Series - Mohit Raina for Mumbai Diaries 26/11

Best Actress in a Series - Sakshi Tanwar for Mai

Best Series - Mumbai Diaries 26/11 by Nikkhil Advani

Best Indie Film - Jaggi directed by Anmol Sidhu (Punjabi)

Best Director - Jointly won by Shoojit Sircar for Sardar Udham and Aparna Sen for The Rapist

Best Actor - Ranveer Singh for 83

Best Actress - Shefali Shah for Jalsa

Best Film - 83 directed by Kabir Khan

Equality in Cinema - The team of Jalsa directed by Suresh Triveni

Disruptor in Cinema Award - Vaani Kapoor for Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Lifestime Achievement Award - Kapil Dev

Leadership in Cinema Award - Abhishek Bachchan