My Melbourne is an anthology film featuring four stories about identity and belonging, inspired by true incidents in Melbourne, Australia. The film addresses themes of diversity, sexuality, gender, disability, and race, with each directed by Indian filmmakers Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali, and Kabir Khan.
Envisioned and produced by Mitu Bhowmick Lange, the project received support from VicScreen and Screen Australia. My Melbourne had its world premiere on 15 August 2024, at the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
The film was released theatrically in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji on 6 March 2025, and in India on 14 March 2025.
Plot summaries
My Melbourne comprises four segments, each directed by different filmmakers, addressing themes related to the LGBTQIA+, disability, gender and race. The film has four stories titled, Emma, Nandini, Jules, and Setara.
Cast
- Kat Stewart as Jules
- Jake Ryan as Chef Leon
- Arushi Sharma as Sakshi
- Jackson Gallagher as Chris
- Arka Das as Indraneel
- Brad Hodge as Coach
- Ella Wilson as Asia
- Sepideh Fallah as Latifa/mother
Production
The film was produced by Mitu Bhowmick Lange, who also serves as the director of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It is an Indo-Australian collaboration, produced by Mind Blowing Films in association with VicScreen and Screen Australia. It features dialogue in English, Bengali, Hindi, Dari, and Auslan.
The film was shot entirely on location in Melbourne, Australia. Afghan singer Aryana Sayeed was brought on board to sing the title track of Setera for the film.
Minister for Creative Industries, Colin William Brooks, stated, "My Melbourne is a celebration of our city, our screen industry, and the many cultures and diverse communities that call our state home."
In June 2025, a second instalment of My Melbourne was announced, with Rajkumar Hirani, Shoojit Sircar, Anjali Menon, and Onir set to direct. The project was confirmed by Mind Blowing Films and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Soundtrack
The My Melbourne title track is written and performed by Janaki Easwar in English and Parvyn Kaur Singh in Punjabi, with music composed by Tamil Rogeon and Yidaki played by Kiernan Ironfield. The title track for Setara is composed by Anurag Sharma, sung by Aryana Sayeed.
Release
My Melbourne premiered on 15 August 2024, at the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). The film's trailer was released on 1 August 2024. The film had its international premiere on 22 October 2024, at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
The film had a special screening at the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival in December 2024, held at the Nandan Film and Cultural Centre. My Melbourne was selected and screened at the 22nd Chennai International Film Festival on 14 December 2024. It was also screened as the closing film at the first Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) in February 2025.
My Melbourne was released theatrically in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji on 6 March 2025. The film had its theatrical release in India on 14 March 2025. It is the first Australian film to receive distribution in India since 2016.
The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India in Goa in November 2025 as part of the "Spotlight: Australia" section, under which Australia was designated the festival's Spotlight Country.
Reception
The film received a generally positive response, with Kalpa Jyoti Bhuyan of High On Films praising its emotional depth and direction, rating it 3 out of 5.
Hardika Gupta of NDTV rated 3/5 stars and commented that "The anthology's brilliance lies not in grandiose gestures or heavy-handed moral lessons, but in its subtle, almost poetic portrayal of individuals grappling with identity, belonging and survival in a world that often seems indifferent to their struggles." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare gave 4 stars out 5 and said that "All-in-all, My Melbourne encapsulates a variety of human experiences and leaves the viewers on a positive note." Alaka Sahani of The Indian Express rated 3/5 stars and observed that "These stories might be set in Melbourne but the universality of their themes blurs the geographical distinction. Despite being different stories, there is a sense of homogeneity that glues them together. Another binding agent is ‘hope’".
Anuj Kumar of The Hindu said that "‘Setara’ shines in this otherwise insipid multigrain recipe". Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in writes in her review of this film that "My Melbourne ticks all the right boxes, with little insight into what it really means to sink roots Down under." Vineeta Kumar of India Today gave 3.5 stars and said that "If your idea of watching cinema is to bring a thought home, 'My Melbourne' does that, and more. It falters with its pace and lack of drama except for in 'Setara', but its heart feels at the right place". Dhaval Roy of The Times of India awarded 3 stars out of 5 and said "The anthology does not boast high production value, but its visuals are striking, and the music enhances its indie charm." Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint gave 3 stars out of 5 and said "Most of the stories’ flaws would perhaps have been fixed with a stronger sense of purpose and more finesse. And as with most anthologies, My Melbourne, is a mixed bag but it's not without its wins."
Mohar Basu of Mid-Day wrote, "What I truly enjoyed about the anthology are the people in these stories and their incredible faith in life. That unbeatable human spirit truly makes the film stand out," and rated the film 3 out of 5. Alaka Sahani from The Indian Express rated My Melbourne 3 stars out of 5, noting that the film's "four segments...are moving explorations of the characters' sense of self and identity," emphasizing the inclusive nature of the project. She also appreciated the film's universal themes, stating that it "blurs the geographical distinction," offering a powerful narrative of hope and self-discovery. Rishabh Suri from Hindustan Times rated My Melbourne 3.5 stars out of 5, praising its anthology format for being "refreshing" and "poignant." Ganesh Aaglave of Firstpost rated the film 3 out of 5 stars.
Manisha Lakhe, in her review for Livemint, described it as a "must watch". She praised the anthology for its compelling portrayal of immigrant stories, noting how it intertwines personal growth, cultural identity, and financial lessons. Amit Bhatia of ABP News rated My Melbourne 3/5, praising the distinct moods of the four stories and the engaging direction. Abhishek Srivastava of Moneycontrol rated My Melbourne 3.5/5, appreciating the performances and the diversity of the narratives, particularly Onir's Nandini. He also mentioned the film's exploration of marginalized groups and its combination of abstract and accessible storytelling, despite its niche appeal.
