Malayalam feature film ‘PRIVATE’ has been officially selected for the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026.Written and directed by Deepak Deon, the film will be screened during the festival, which is scheduled to take place in Melbourne, Australia, from August 13 to August 23, 2026.
Indrans and Meenakshi Anoop lead the cast
‘PRIVATE’ features veteran actor Indrans and actress Meenakshi Anoop in the lead roles.The film presents a socially relevant narrative that examines issues surrounding freedom of expression, human rights and the realities faced by ordinary people in contemporary society.
Deepak Deon reveals what inspired the film
Speaking exclusively to ETimes, director Deepak Deon shared the ideas that inspired him to write and direct ‘PRIVATE’.He said, “PRIVATE ‘ comes from a deep concern about the shrinking space for freedom of expression and basic human rights. I have always been disturbed by how systems of power can slowly normalize control, silence voices, and make people believe they are powerless. PRIVATE is my response to that reality.”He added, “The film is not just a story, but a reflection of the world we are living in today—where questioning authority can become dangerous, and silence is often mistaken for peace. Through this film I wanted to explore the psychological and emotional impact of such control on ordinary people. I believe cinema has the power to provoke thought and start conversations and this film is my attempt to do that.”
A story of human connection and resilience
Indrans’ ‘PRIVATE’ selected for IFFM 2026; Deepak Deon says, ‘The film is a reflection of today’s world’ – Exclusive
At the heart of ‘PRIVATE’ is the journey of two strangers—an elderly man and a teenage girl. Their shared journey gradually develops into an exploration of trust, resilience, courage, and hope.On the other hand, Indrans was recently seen in the Tamil film ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’, and the Suriya starrer actioner ‘Karuppu’ which turned out to be a superhit.
