Mitu Bhowmick Lange

Mitu Bhowmick Lange is director of Mind Blowing Films, a film distribution company of Indian films in Australia and New Zealand.
Since 2012, she is also the tender provider for Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
Career
Lange started Mind Blowing Films in 2009, after the "Bounced Cheques Episode" in Philadelphia, with Swish Group during production of Kurbaan, a Bollywood movie filmed during 2008 .
She has also line produced Bollywood films including Salaam Namaste, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, Chak De India, and Koi Aap Sa.
She produced Spice Girls of India, which was screened at the London Feminist Film Festival.
Kurbaan and bounced payments
Lange was earlier with Swish Group, which was part of the production of Kurbaan, a Bollywood movie filmed during 2008 in Philadelphia, that wrote a number of bank cheques that failed to clear.
"More than 1000 crew members and extras said that their final paychecks have bounced", an incident that caused significant hardship.. Checks were written to a variety of local parties that totaled upwards of $100 K to $500 K bounced, and the film’s producers weren’t quick to respond.
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Controversies
Mitu Bhowmick Lange is the Director and Tender Provider for Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) since 2012.
Accusations of Recycling Films
In May 2012, The Age accused the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) tender provider of recycling films already released, and of appearing to be using government money to rebadge a festival it had already been running as a commercial enterprise.
In May 2013, Jude Perera the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, and Member for Cranbourne raised the issue of recycling of films by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) tender provider at the festival, and dominance of Hindi films at the IFFM in the Victorian Parliament. In November 2013 while speaking to media he repeated those accusations.
Accusations of Ignoring Local Talent
In May 2014, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) tender provider was accused of ignoring and excluding local Australian, and Victorian talents, by Dr Amit Sarwal an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation (CCG), Deakin University, Melbourne. Similar accusation have been made by various other community leaders and stakeholders.
Accusations by Mrs Khushbu Sundar
In August 2017, the Honorary Member of Richmond Football Club and South Indian film actress/producer Kushboo accused the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) tender provider of discriminating against the non-Hindi films and film stars.
Accusations of "Not consulting the community"
In December 2013, Cr Oscar Lobo, the Deputy Mayor of City of Glen Eira accused the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Tender Provider of being "non-inclusive".
In February 2014, Cr Tim Singh, the former Mayor of City of Darebin accused the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Tender provider of "not broadly consulting with the local community".
The original election policy that created and funded the IFFM had clearly and explicitly promised "Open and transparent consultation with the community".
Other IFFM Controversies
In August 2014, then Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews had promised to deliver a less controvertial IFFM, if elected.
In January 2015 after becoming the Victorian Premier, Mr Daniel Andrews quoted while speaking to the media "We don’t want people feeling they have been excluded, or that they haven’t been listened to".

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