From Manipur to Melbourne

Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment continues its legacy of championing fresh talent and compelling storytelling with its latest production Boong, which has been officially selected as the Spotlight Film of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025. The highly anticipated drama will have its Victorian state premiere in Australia at the festival this August.

Boong marks the directorial debut of Lakshmipriya Devi, a seasoned industry professional who has previously worked as the first assistant director on acclaimed projects, including Luck by Chance, Talaash, PK and A Suitable Boy.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said, “We are thrilled to present the world premiere of Boong as this year’s Spotlight Film. It’s a story that is as bold as it is intimate, and Lakshmipriya Devi’s debut is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary talent working behind the scenes in Indian cinema. IFFM has always been committed to championing new voices, and Boong is exactly the kind of story that resonates globally — deeply rooted in its context yet universally human in its emotion.”—