IFFM 2024: Kabir Khan Wins Best Director, Kartik Aaryan and Parvathy Thiruvothu Take Top Acting Honours

The 15th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024, a grand celebration of Indian cinema, has honoured a host of cinematic talents. The festival, running from August 15 to 25, has recognised outstanding contributions across various categories, underscoring the evolving and vibrant landscape of Indian cinema.

Among the celebrated was filmmaker Kabir Khan, who won Best Director for Chandu Champion.

Khan expressed his gratitude, saying,

“To get recognition from an international jury just feels special. It validates the heartfelt efforts behind Chandu Champion.”

Kartik Aaryan, who took home the Best Actor award for his role in Chandu Champion, shared his excitement, stating,

“This is a big honour. This is my first award for Chandu Champion and I hope this journey continues.”

He reflected on the role’s challenges, calling it the most intense portrayal of his career.

Parvathy Thiruvothu was awarded Best Actress for her performance in Ullozhukku (Undercurrent). “I’m going to go home to my mom and dad and give them this award,” she said, adding,

“This one has been a rebirth for me because it required me to unlearn every notion of what craft meant to me.”

Imtiaz Ali was honoured with the Breakout Film of the Year award for Amar Singh Chamkila. He expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s just recognition for what Amar Singh Chamkila stood for and what he went through in his life.”

Rasika Dugal received the Diversity Champion award and reflected on her future choices, stating,

“This is really special because it makes you feel like the brief choices that you made were meaningful.”

Adarsh Gourav, awarded Disruptor of the Year for Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, celebrated the recognition, noting, “It’s such a special feeling to be awarded for a film that’s very, very dear to me.”

Arjun Mathur, who won Best Performance in a Series (Male) for Made In Heaven S2, expressed his appreciation for the global love the show has received, stating,

“It means a lot. The show has been loved all over the world, and it’s actually amazing.”

The festival also honoured the legendary AR Rahman with the Excellence in Cinema award, while Ram Charan was recognised as the Ambassador for Indian Art and Culture.

Shoojit Sircar, a prominent director, praised the festival for its role in bridging global audiences with Indian cinema, stating,

“It definitely gives us a lot more eyeballs and also the kind of cinema that we are doing.”

The list of the winners is given below:

• Best Performance (Male): Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion
• Best Performance (Female): Parvathy Thiruvothu for Ullozhukku
• Best Film: 12th Fail
• Best Director: Kabir Khan for Chandu Champion and Nithilan Swaminathan for Maharaja
• Best Performer Critics Choice: Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail
• Ambassador for Indian Art and Culture: Ram Charan
• Best Film Critics Choice: Laapataa Ladies
• Best Series: Kohhra
• Equality in Cinema: Dunki
• Best Film from the Subcontinent: The Red Suitcase
• People’s Choice: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
• Excellence in Cinema: AR Rahman
• Breakout Film Of The Year: Amar Singh Chamkila
• Disruptor of the Year: Adarsh Gourav
• Diversity Champion: Rasika Dugal
• Best Performance Female Series: Nimisha Sajayan for Poacher
• Best Performance Male Series: Arjun Mathur for Made in Heaven Season 2
• Best Director Critics Choice: Dominic Sangma for Rapture
• Short Film Competition: Robbie Fatt for The Vegemite Sandwich 

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024 continues to be a beacon of cultural exchange, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of Indian cinema on a global platform. The list of winners reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of Indian cinema, celebrating excellence across a wide spectrum of genres and styles.

Support Our Journalism

Global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today – with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors – is doing just that. Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon and support honest and fearless journalism. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/TheAusToday