Mumbai

Actor-producer Aamir Khan will travel to Australia to attend a special screening of his landmark film Lagaan as part of the 17th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), organisers announced on Wednesday.

Recognised as the largest celebration of Indian cinema outside the country, the festival will be held in Melbourne from August 13 to 23.

The celebrations will begin with a curtain-raiser event on July 9, marking the 25th anniversary of Lagaan, the iconic period sports drama directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film remains one of Indian cinema's most acclaimed works and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Aamir Khan will be present at the special screening to be held at the ACMI cinema in Melbourne, officially launching this year's festival.

IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said commemorating the silver jubilee of Lagaan was the ideal way to inaugurate the festival.

She noted that the festival has consistently celebrated films that have left a lasting impact on audiences, adding that Lagaan continues to inspire filmmakers and movie lovers across the world even 25 years after its release.

Lange also expressed her delight at welcoming Aamir Khan to Melbourne for the occasion and said the organisers looked forward to presenting another memorable edition of the festival showcasing the finest works of Indian cinema.

Supported by the Government of Victoria, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has established itself as one of the most prominent international platforms for Indian films and talent.

Over the years, the festival has hosted several leading personalities from the Indian entertainment industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rahman, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Ram Charan, Vijay Sethupathi, Vicky Kaushal, Vijay Varma and Keerthy Suresh.

Renowned filmmakers such as Rajkumar Hirani, Shoojit Sircar, Zoya Akhtar, Rima Das and Kabir Khan have also participated in previous editions.

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This year's festival programme will include film screenings, premieres, panel discussions, masterclasses and cultural events, bringing together filmmakers, actors, industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts from across the globe.