At the India premiere of My Melbourne, filmmaker Onir shared his thoughts on his contribution to the anthology, focusing on his segment titled Nandini. The film, which explores themes of identity, belonging, and resilience, is a collection of four unique stories, each directed by renowned Indian filmmakers Onir, Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, and Rima Das. My Melbourne addresses a wide range of social issues, including LGBTQIA+ rights, disability, gender, and race. Scheduled for a theatrical release in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji on 6 March 2025, the film will also release in India on 14 March 2025.
Speaking about his segment, Onir explained, "The story of Nandini is one of the four stories in My Melbourne. Each story is directed by a different filmmaker, and all of them are set in Melbourne. Nandini is a touching tale about the father-son relationship. The father lives in India, and when his son came out as gay, the father disowned him. The son now lives in Australia. A year after the mother passes away, the father takes her ashes and travels to Australia. He feels guilty about how he treated his son and now tries to mend their broken bond."
Onir emphasized the emotional depth of the father and son’s journey, saying, "The story focuses on the father’s attempt to rebuild the relationship with his son after years of estrangement. It’s about the healing of a broken connection."
The filmmaker also reflected on the significance of appreciation and recognition for the film, noting, "Appreciation and awards are always precious, but what really matters is how the audience responds. I hope that the audience loves the film as much as we enjoyed making it."
My Melbourne is an anthology film made up of four distinct segments, each helmed by different directors, that explore crucial themes such as LGBTQIA+ rights, disability, gender, and race. The film consists of four stories titled Emma, Nandini, Jules, and Setara, each offering a unique perspective on identity and belonging.