Brett Lee, Anupam Sharma, Tannishtha Chatterjee & Devendra Gupta. Photo : Manav Manglani
By Neeraj Nanda
Melbourne, 5 September: ‘Unindian’, the first feature of the recently established Australia India Film Fund (AIFF) will go into production in October in Sydney, was announced by the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott in Mumbai on 4 September. . A romantic comedy with renowned Australian cricketer Brett Lee starring in his first lead role, ‘Unindian’ also stars actress Tannishtha Chatterjee who gained acclaim in the celebrated feature ‘Brick Lane’.
The first of its kind in the world, the Australia India Film Fund was established in 2013 to invest in Australian films with Indian themes for a global audience, ‘Unindian’ will be directed by none other than Anupam Sharma, Sydney based Australian expert on Indian cinema. Anupam heads films & casting TEMPLE based out of Fox Studios – Sydney.
Answering from Mumbai by phone to a SAT question, on an Indian directing a film called unIndian, Anupam Sharma, said, “It is a funny name and the movie is a romantic comedy. It tries to tell who is an Indian or non Indian.”
“I am numbed, excited and lots of hard work needs to be done. We have to focus on every minute detail,” he said.
The film is written by Thushy Saathi, ‘Unindian’ is being presented by Devendra Gupta and Yateender Gupta, produced by Anupam Sharma and Lisa Duff and executive produced by Chandru Tolani.
When a beautiful divorcee and single mother of one, Meera (Tannishtha Chatterjee), meets the charismatic Will (Brett Lee), love is the last thing on her mind. An Australian of Indian origin, Meera has settled in Sydney and carved out a successful career and life for both her and her daughter. But Meera’s marital status is subject of much discussion within her family, and she is encouraged on a seemingly daily basis to marry ‘a nice Indian man’. Does she do as her family wishes? … Or does she follow her heart and live her life the way she wants to?
Highlighting the complexities of Indian Diaspora and wooing another from a different culture, UNINDIAN is a romantic comedy with a lot of heart!
Brett Lee said “I am honoured to have been cast as a lead in the first Australia India Film Fund film, privileged to be working with Anupam Sharma and humbled to be working with an actress of the calibre of Tannishtha Chatterjee.”
Tannishtha Chatterjee said “Australia has always been a very special country for me. It makes me very happy to play the lead in the AIFF film ‘Unindian’.
CEO of the AIFF Devendra Gupta said: “”AIFF was formed with the vision of creating high quality cross cultural productions. Over the next few years we intend to inject significant funds into the Australian film and television industry, with specific focus on cross-cultural stories. My associate Mr. Yateender Gupta and I are honoured that the first slate of AIFF films is receiving such strong support.
“As Indian Australians we see it as our responsibility to both celebrate the values of and strengthen ties between the two countries. With the creative magic of our Head of Films Mr Anupam Sharma, and a pool of investors ready to support these projects, we are confident of AIFF’s continued success for years to come.”
With the second film in the slate currently in advance stages of development, it is anticipated that the AIFF will invest in excess of ten million dollars in to the Australian film industry over the next two years. Written by Vikram Singh, An Indian Summer will be produced by John Winter (Rabbit Proof Fence, My Mother Frank, Paperback Hero), directed by Vikram Singh and is expected to go into production in mid 2015.
– SAT News Service.
