Consulate General of Malaysia, MEA, and Avichi College Jointly Launch India–ASEAN Film Festival 2025 in Chennai !

Consulate General of Malaysia, MEA, and Avichi College Jointly Launch India–ASEAN Film Festival 2025 in Chennai !

Chennai, 18October 2025 The India–ASEAN Film Festival 2025 was inaugurated today at Avichi College of Arts and Science, Virugambakkam, Chennai, as part of the ASEAN–India Year of Tourism 2025 celebrations.

Organized under Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN 2025, the festival is a collaborative initiative between the Consulate General of Malaysia, Chennai, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Southern Branch Office, Government of India, India Tourism, ASEAN Diplomatic Missions in South India, and Avichi College of Arts and Science.

The three-day festival aims to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people connectivity between ASEAN Member States and India through the transformative medium of cinema – celebrating storytelling, diversity, and shared human experiences.

Inaugural Ceremony:

The festival was inaugurated by Ambassador (Retd.) Mr. B.R. Muthukumar, IFS, former Indian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Belarus, and Azerbaijan, who attended as the Chief Guest of Honour.

The inaugural event was graced by a distinguished gathering that included:

• Mr. P. Vasu, Renowned Tamil Film Director – Guest of Honour

• Mr. S. Vijayakumar, IFS, Head of Branch Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs – Guest of Honour

• Mr. Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
• Mr. Edgar Pang, Consul General of Singapore, Chennai
• Mr. Racha Aribarg, Consul General, Royal Thai Consulate, Chennai
• Prof. J. Ranganathan, Honorary Consul of Myanmar
• Mr. K.T. Kunjumon, Indian Film Producer and Writer
• Mr. AVM K. Shanmugam, Managing Director, AVM Productions Pvt. Ltd. & Correspondent, Avichi College of Arts and Science
• Mr. Mansur Ahmed, General Manager, Somerset Greenways Chennai
All dignitaries were felicitated and presented with mementos by H.E. Mr. K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia, Chennai, and Mr. AVM K. Shanmugam, Managing Director, AVM Productions Pvt. Ltd. and Secretary of Avichi College of Arts and Science, in appreciation of their participation and contributions toward strengthening ASEAN–India relations.

Highlights of the Event:
In his inaugural address, H.E. Mr. K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia, emphasized that this is the first-ever India–ASEAN Film Festival organized in Chennai under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, to celebrate cultural and cinematic exchanges between India and ASEAN countries. He also mentioned that the India–ASEAN Summit will be held later this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“In Malaysia’s capacity as Chair of ASEAN 2025, we are honoured to lead this cultural initiative as part of the ASEAN–India Year of Tourism. The India–ASEAN Film Festival is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural harmony — reflecting our shared commitment to deepening people-to-people connections through art, cinema, and tourism.”
— H.E. Mr. K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia, Chennai
Mr. S. Vijayakumar, IFS, in his address, spoke about the expanding opportunities in the film sector and encouraged ASEAN filmmakers to explore India as a preferred destination for film shooting and film tourism, and vice versa.
Delivering his keynote, Ambassador (Retd.) Mr. B.R. Muthukumar shared his experiences in promoting cultural diplomacy through cinema. He reflected on the evolution of ASEAN cinema and his association with eminent Indian filmmaker Late Shyam Benegal, highlighting the role of cinema in fostering mutual understanding and people-to-people relations.

Film Line-Up:
The festival presents a diverse showcase of films from Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Thailand, highlighting the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the ASEAN and Indian film industries.

• Malaysia: Walid, Mencari Ramlee
• India: 12th Fail, Ponniyin Selvan
• Thailand: Time to Fly
• Singapore: Ah Boys to Men
The opening day concluded with the screening of the Malaysian film Walid at 6:30 p.m., marking an inspiring start to a three-day celebration of cross-cultural storytelling and artistic collaboration.

Acknowledgments and Support:
The evening also featured cultural performances, networking sessions, and enthusiastic participation from over 200 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, film fraternity, media representatives, and students.
Avichi College of Arts and Science, led by Mr. AVM K. Shanmugam, played a pivotal role in hosting and coordinating the festival. The college’s management, faculty, and students contributed significantly to the success of the event, reflecting Avichi’s ongoing commitment to fostering global cultural exchange and academic engagement through cinema.
The organizers extended special appreciation to H.E. Mr. K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia, the Consulate General of Malaysia, Chennai, and Mr. AVM K Shanmugam, Managing Director, AVM Productions Pvt. Ltd., Secretary, Avichi College of Arts and Science, for their leadership and collaboration in organizing the festival.
The event also received generous support from Somerset Greenways Chennai, which provided warm hospitality and invaluable assistance throughout the festival.

Conclusion:
The India–ASEAN Film Festival 2025 underscores the shared commitment of ASEAN Member States and India to promote regional cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and unity under the ASEAN–India partnership framework.
The festival will continue from October 16 to 18, 2025, at Avichi College of Arts and Science, Chennai, and is open to a select audiences.