The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne announced the winners of the second IFFM Awards at a star-studded, red-carpet gala event at Melbourne`s National Gallery of Victoria on Saturday 15 August, Indian Independence Day.

Bollywood star Anil Kapoor was recognised with the IFFM Excellence in Cinema Award, following megastar Amitabh Bachchan who was presented with the inaugural award in 2014. Quirky father-daughter comedy 'Piku', directed by Shoojit Sircar, dominated the evening, scooping top prizes for the categories of Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor, which Piku`s Irrfan Khan shared with Shahid Kapoor for 'Haider'. The Amitabh Bachchan-Deepika Padukone starrer was screened at IFFM on August 16.

Commenting on the Best Actor Award IFFM judge Jill Bilcock said: "Irrfan Khan as Rana in Piku gave a wonderful restrained performance with great attention to detail and excellent comic timing. Irrfan is a master of the "slow burn", creating plenty of sexual tension and a character that owns the screen."

The heart-warming Tamil drama 'Kaaka Muttai' (Crows Eggs), directed by M. Manikandan, won Best Indie Film, adding to its many honours from the National Film Awards, the Indian Film Festival Los Angeles and the Toronto International Film Festival. 'Kaaka Muttai' follows two slum children whose all-encompassing desire is to taste a pizza.There is an encore IFFM screening August 25.

Bhumi Pednekar won Best Actress for her role in 'Dum Lagake Haisha', which made its Australian premiere at IFFM and screens again August 25.

The Telstra People's Choice Prize for the Indian film with the highest Australian box office takings in 2014 went to 'PK' directed by Rajkumar Hirani which screens on August 18. The awards were judged by a panel of Indian and Australian film industry figures including Simi Garewal, Rajeev Masand, Andrew Anastasios, Jill Bilcock, and Nikhil Advani.

Festival director Mitu Bhowmick-Lange said, "We feel honoured to have so many of India`s talented stars and filmmakers with us in Melbourne to celebrate the ability of film to cross borders and Indian Independence Day".

Directors Shoojit Sircar, M. Manikandan, Bhumi Pednekar and 'Piku' producer Sneha Rahani were in attendance at the gala to collect their awards, together with very special Festival guests including Sonam Kapoor, Simi Garewal, and Nikhil Advani. Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi were unable to attend due to an accident in Mumbai.

Also announced were the winners of the Western Union Short Film Competition. The Australian winner is Mark Hellinger for Road to Glory, and the Indian winner is All India Bakchod for Rape: It`s Your Fault.

Attendees at the awards were entertained by two very special fashion shows from India`s leading fashion designers, Anamika Khanna and Guarav Gupta, in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria, and a third showcasing exceptional Melbourne designers. All the designers donated some of their garments with proceeds going to The Royal Children`s Hospital Foundation.