| Brand Bollywood Downunder | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Anupam Sharma |
| Written by | Anupam Sharma Karin Steininger |
| Produced by | Anupam Sharma Claire Haywood Deepti Sachdeva |
| Starring | Farhan Akhtar Fardeen Khan Harman Baweja Anupam Kher Anupam Sharma |
| Narrated by | Female voice as the personification of "India" |
| Cinematography | Casimir Dickson, Susan Lumsdon, Aaakash Subramanium, Gaganpreet Singh |
| Edited by | Karin Steininger |
| Music by | Brett Aplin Dmitri Golovko Burkhard von Dallwitz |
Production company | Films & Casting Temple Ltd |
| Distributed by | Pivot Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$2.3 million |
Brand Bollywood Downunder is a 2023 Australian feature documentary directed by Anupam Sharma that examines the globalisation of Bollywood with a focus on its cultural and cinematic connections with Australia from 1897 to 2023. [1] The film features interviews with actors and filmmakers including Farhan Akhtar, Fardeen Khan, Harman Baweja, and Anupam Kher, alongside archival footage and behind-the-scenes material. [2] It premiered in Australia on 2 November 2023, was released on over 39 screens nationally, and became available on Netflix Australia and New Zealand on 1 August 2024. [3]
Narrated by a female voice representing "India", the documentary explores the phenomenon of "Bollywoodisation"—the spread of Hindi-language cinema's aesthetics, storytelling, music, and dance into global film culture. [1] It charts Bollywood’s connections with Australia over more than a century, from the first screenings of Indian films in 1897 to modern collaborations. [2] The film also contrasts the production styles of the two countries, highlighting cultural differences and the shared passion for cinema.
Presented as themselves (in alphabetical order):
Brand Bollywood Downunder was produced by Films & Casting Temple Ltd with a cross-cultural crew. It received support from Screen Australia through the Producer Offset program. [4] Filming took place in Australia, India, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The film premiered at the Dendi Bollywood Film Festival on 5 November 2023, [5] and was later screened at the Oxford International Film Festival, Byron Bay Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of India. [2] Its European premiere took place at the UK Asian Film Festival (Tongues on Fire) in London, where it was hosted by the Indian High Commissioner at India House. [6]
The Netflix Australia and New Zealand release began on 1 August 2024. [3]
Stage Whispers described the film as "a highly entertaining and informative look at Indian filmmaking culture… a must, whether you are a Bollywood newbie or dedicated follower". [2] In The Australian, critic David Stratton called it "worth watching" for its historical perspective. [7] ScreenHub Australia praised the historical content but found some stylistic choices distracting. [1] Hush Hush Biz called it "an insightful exploration of Bollywood’s rich history" and its influence on global cinema. [8]
In May 2024, the film won the Flame Award for Best Documentary at the UK Asian Film Festival. [6] The award was accepted by Manpreet Kaur Singh, a journalist and broadcaster who appears in the film. [9]