The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2018 has announced its regional films list, with critically acclaimed films due for screening at the largest film festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The English film category spans the marvellous films from different regions of India, with equally brilliant films from across the country.

Shashi Kapoor’s 1972 film Siddhartha will be screened at the festival this year to commemorate the late actor’s immense contribution to Indian cinema. The film, which is based on a book of the same name by Conrad Rooks, who also directed the film, shows the journey of Siddhartha who engages in the search of a meaningful way of life. Simi Garewal who was Shashi Kapoor’s co-star in the film will be hosting the screening as a special commemoration for the late actor, following which she will also engage in a special Q&A session with the audience who would be flying down from various parts of Australia and New Zealand.

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“Siddhartha keeps getting a resurgence every new decade. And in the West, I find that even though Shashi has done a lot of films with Ismail Merchant, people still remember him for Siddhartha. Recently I was asked to present the film at a festival in London and pay tribute to Shashi. I just talk about Shashi before the screening, what I know about him and my feelings, my friendship and my work with him and I just talk to them about that. So that’s the tribute, the happy moments I shared with my dear, dear friend”, the celebrated actress and host said.