For Sydney-based doctors of Indian origin—Surjit Tarafdar, Rajiv Rattan, and Prasun Datta—the pandemic brought solace in the form of creating an organisation, which also became a creative outlet.
“The idea for Indian Doctors in Australia (IDIA) emerged during COVID-19, a time when face-to-face meetings and social interactions were severely limited,” says Tarafdar, a general physician and nephrologist at Blacktown.
With representation from various fields of medicine, the organisation was established in 2021 to provide a networking platform for doctors, contribute to health and empowerment projects in India, and assist both the Australian Indian and broader Australian communities in times of crisis.
Now, the trio is launching the first ever Indian Parallel Cinema Festival of Australia to celebrate culture and strengthen community bonds.
“IDIA is our connection to our roots, promoting our culture and ensuring our future generations stay connected to it. With this purpose in mind, we realised that when our children talk about Indian cinema, they only refer to Bollywood,” says Rattan, explaining how the idea came about.
“They are unaware of cinematic masters like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen, who have achieved international acclaim for their work. Additionally, the Australian public often doesn’t realise that Indian cinema extends beyond Bollywood. Lastly, many of us have fond, nostalgic memories of classic Indian cinema, and we thought it would be a great idea to bring some of these timeless films to Australia,” adds Rattan, who is a radiologist and clinical director at Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, CCLHD.
As they explored further, they discovered that Europe, the US, and the UK have been hosting such festivals for years, reflecting the mature state of their diaspora and immigrant populations.
“In contrast, Australia and New Zealand are still in the process of maturing in this regard. With this goal in mind, we decided to start with Satyajit Ray,” says Datta, Staff Specialist in Addiction Medicine for the Nepean Blue Mountains LHD.
The team initially contacted Sandip Ray, son of the legendary Satyajit Ray. While he was initially hesitant, he eventually embraced the idea and will be travelling to Sydney for the festival. Subsequently, they navigated the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) of India and other official channels to secure the rights.
After six months of preparation, the inaugural Indian Parallel Cinema Festival of Australia is ready to launch, featuring four critically acclaimed films by the legendary Satyajit Ray. Renowned for giving Indian cinema a global identity, Ray is also the only Indian to have received the Lifetime Achievement Oscar.
A three-day event from 9-11 August, the festival will include film screenings, a live music performance, post-screening Q&A sessions, and a cinema masterclass with chief guest and acclaimed filmmaker Sandip Ray. Other noted actors, including Victor Bannerjee and Dhritiman Chatterjee, will also participate virtually, adding further depth and insight to the festival.
The trio, who had no prior experience in organising events, say that the process has been a significant learning curve for them. Additionally, Abhishek Tarafdar, Surjit’s son, has been managing behind-the-scenes work, along with Shakti Dabholkar, a Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Physician in Parramatta and a key IDIA member.
“Securing the films was a time-consuming process, especially given that we have no background in the movie industry. Finalising venues and other logistics presented their own set of challenges. Now, our biggest hurdle is spreading the word about our festival and making sure people know we exist,” says Tarafdar.
“The last few months have been a steep learning curve. All of us are working full-time and beyond. We are not relying on a third party to make this happen; we are handling everything ourselves. This has been both the biggest challenge and the greatest joy. It has led to numerous discussions, networking opportunities, and, as a journey, it has been enjoyable so far. We believe it’s only going to get better from here,” adds Datta.
On the hopes of the festival’s impact on the film community and audiences in Australia, Datta says, “As a Bengali from Kolkata who grew up with Ray’s films and music, I admit I am biased. Ray’s films have a timeless appeal, offering new insights each time you watch them. Our goal is to introduce this unique aspect of Indian cinema, which isn’t often showcased, so that audiences will return year after year, craving more. Unlike typical Bollywood films, which may not leave a lasting impression, Ray’s work invites ongoing reflection and enjoyment.”
The team hopes to make this festival an annual event with the promise to foster greater understanding and connection within the Australian and broader community, inviting audiences to explore and cherish the profound artistry of Indian film.
For more details on the Indian Parallel Cinema Festival of Australia, click here
For tickets, click here
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Sydney-based doctors of Indian origin founded IDIA & launched the Indian Parallel Cinema Festival 🎥🇮🇳 to celebrate Indian culture & heritage through films by Satyajit Ray, fostering community bonds. 👨⚕️🎬🤝 #TheIndianSun #SatyajitRay #Cinemahttps://t.co/PrtOoSDKg2
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