After yet another bumpy start to the year due to the global pandemic, the excitement around the 12th Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne is soaring high for all cinephiles across the globe. The virtual plus physical event will be held from 12th to 21st August in cinemas and 15th to 30th August online Australia-wide. As the festival inches closer day by day, the line-up of films to be screened there is gaining strength steadfastly. The latest addition to the incredible list is Anshuman Jha, Sanjay Mishra and Jaaved Jaaferi’s short film ‘Bullet Proof Anand’.
‘Bullet Proof Anand’ is a quirky tribute to Bruce Lee and Rajesh Khanna’s Anand. The film will have its premiere in Melbourne at the IFFM 2021 as an official selection. Sanjay Mishra and Anshuman Jha play two crazy North Indian goons who are inspired by Bruce Lee, the film also stars Jaaved Jaffari as the eponymous dreaded gangster Bulletproof Anand. Directed by Alok Sharma, the short film is a comical homage to the Bollywood Gangster Films of the ’90s. Anshuman was last seen earlier this year opposite Zareen Khan in ‘Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele’, a film that was also produced by him.
Speaking on the selection of his short film at the IFFM, Anshuman Jha tells us, “It is a matter of great honor and joy to have ‘Bullet Proof Anand’, a film that’s super special and close to my heart, premiere at the IFFM this year. This film is also my second collaboration with the legendary Sanjay Mishra after ‘Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain’ and I’m very excited to see the audiences’ reaction to it at the festival.”
Expanding on the film’s entry at the festival, Sanjay Mishra says, “There are some films that the Indian film the industry has been generating in the past decade that is much more diverse and variegated than before, and I believe that ‘Bullet Proof Anand’ falls into that category. I feel absolutely elated to have our film screen at the IFFM 2021, as well as see the other incredible films that have made it to the line-up this year.”
Director Alok Sharma adds, “Our short film’s selection at the IFFM this year has brought about immense pride to the entire team. I’m very excited to be a part of the festival, especially because of the excellent quality of films and discussions that take place there, which is a paradise for cinephiles such as me. Can’t wait to see how our film is received on a big platform such as this one.”
