A documentary about India’s first ice hockey team has helped Griffith Film School alumni Mithun Bajaj break into the Indian film industry and is making waves on the international festival circuit.
Mithun’s debut documentary, Fighting on Ice, documents the trials and tribulations of India’s ice hockey team: think Cool Runnings on the Indian subcontinent.
Mithun managed to crowdfund the film, taking on responsibility for directing, shooting and producing his passion project.
“India is known for Bollywood and cricket. When I heard India had an ice hockey team I was surprised and intrigued,” he said.
“The athletes on this team play with minimal equipment and virtually no funding, and they do this because they believe in the sport – ice hockey is their life.
“I found their journey inspiring.”
The film recently won Best Documentary at the Eurasia International Film Festival and has been selected for the Independent Prisma Awards in Rome and the Auckland International Film Festival.
Mithun graduated