Swati Bhat
IFFI Premises, Goa: In a dynamic celebration of Indo-Australian cinema and cultural exchange, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nick Reece made a major exclusive announcement during an interaction with our Chief Editor Ms. Swati Bhat. Reece revealed that his dream project, "My Melbourne 2", is officially underway. "My Melbourne 2" is a sequel to the Indo-Australian anthology film "My Melbourne," with prominent Indian filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani, Shoojit Sircar, Anjali Menon, and Onir set to produce it.
Speaking to The Communiqué News, Reece expressed his enthusiasm at being part of the IFFI 2025. “It’s so exciting. Of course, everybody knows Delhi is the capital of India, but Melbourne is the Indian capital of Australia,” he said, praising Melbourne’s strong connection with its vibrant Indian diaspora.
Indian Cinema’s Unprecedented Rise in Australia-
Reece highlighted the rapidly growing popularity of Indian films in Australia. He revealed that Indian cinema now ranks as the third-highest box office performer in the country, behind only the USA and England.
“This makes Australia the first English-speaking nation where Indian film has reached at such a high position,” he explained. “It’s wonderful to see so many people enjoying Indian movies. We absolutely love it.”
A major contributor to this success is the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) the world’s largest Indian film festival held outside India.
"My Melbourne: A Cross-Cultural Success Story"
The Lord Mayor’s visit marked the launch of the Indian premiere of My Melbourne, an award-winning film created by leading Indian filmmakers in Australia.The film has received critical acclaim and won multiple awards across international circuits.
“We’re here launching the Indian premiere of My Melbourne,” Reece said. “It has been very successful in Australia and has won many awards.” Exclusive: My Melbourne 2 Revealed to The Communiqué News.
During an exclusive conversation with Chief Editor Ms. Swati Bhat, This exclusive announcement was made only to The Communiqué News, underscoring Melbourne’s commitment to strengthening its cultural partnerships with India. “The first one has been such a great success, and we’re excited to take the story forward.” The sequel promises to deepen Indian-Australian storytelling and celebrate the multicultural spirit of Melbourne. A Warm Bollywood Welcome
Describing his experience at the festival, Nick Reece said, “The colour, the energy of Bollywood is like nothing else. I just sit here marvelling at it.”
With heartfelt appreciation for India, he concluded his address with: “Jai Hind, Jai Australia.” with a positive laugh.