Tony Rogers believes laughter is more essential than ever. The Melbourne-based writer and director is gearing up for the June 11 release of How To Talk Australians, a feature-length adaptation of the viral web series that amassed over 12 million views and developed a devoted cult following.
The Film's Premise
The movie follows a group of Indian call centre students who travel to Australia to better understand the country's culture, language, and quirks. It is a road-trip comedy filled with misunderstandings, culture clashes, and affectionate observations about what it means to be Australian.
Rogers, also known for the hit TV series Wilfred, shared with SkyNews.com.au the unlikely real-life encounter that sparked the idea. Co-writer Rob Hibbert visited a pie shop in South Melbourne and was served by an Indian Sikh employee. That moment led to the creation of the show, which took several years to develop.
Inspiration and Development
The pair drew inspiration from a documentary about training centres that teach people to adapt their accents for overseas call centre jobs. This evolved into the fictional Delhi College of Linguistics, the setting for much of the story. Rogers always believed the premise could expand beyond the web series, comparing it to the successful transition of Wilfred from a short film to a series.
The result is a film that is both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly warm-hearted. Rogers emphasises that entertainment is the primary goal: 'It's a comedy. You just want people to have fun. It's a touch controversial sometimes, but on the whole it's not a film that's nasty. We love everybody in the film.'
Comedy as a Bridge
In a time when discussions about race and identity can be divisive, Rogers believes comedy can bridge differences. One of his favourite jokes in the film is the opening line, which states that 30 per cent of Australians are 'casual racists', meaning the other 70 per cent are 'full-time'. He explains, 'It's racist on both sides. Everybody's kind of equal, I reckon, in that sense. We're all a bit concerned about other groups of people who aren't like us, but I really think people are the same. We're different, but we're the same.'
The film affectionately pokes fun at both Indian and Australian cultures without making either the butt of the joke. Rogers notes, 'Indian people are gorgeous people, just like us. They are very, very funny and easily poke fun at themselves.' He was also inspired by the distinctly Australian comedy style popularised by Crocodile Dundee in the 1980s, which exposed Australians to the world and explored old-fashioned Aussie traits.
Authentic Cast
Adding to the film's authenticity is a cast largely made up of first-time performers and community members recruited through local cultural festivals and word of mouth. One actor, Vikrant Narain, who plays Dean Devdan, was discovered working at a Coles supermarket in Elsternwick, Melbourne. Rogers says, 'He's a really good actor. He's actually done some stuff in India, and he's currently living in Delhi, but he comes back here all the time.'
Another cast member, Miss Camela, is in her seventies and had never acted before. Rogers explains, 'We went along to some cultural festival days and just asked people if they wanted to get involved. We got 150 people saying, "Yeah, I'd like to do some acting". Most people are acting for fun or they've never done it before.'
Festival Success
The approach has resonated with audiences. After screening at international festivals in India, including the prestigious Jaipur International Film Festival, How To Talk Australians won the award for Best Comedy. Rogers was surprised by how easily overseas audiences connected with the humour: 'People genuinely laughed. We won Best Comedy, so I guess they kind of got it.'
As Australian films compete for attention in cinemas, Rogers hopes audiences will seek out a homegrown comedy that celebrates cultural differences rather than fearing them. 'I just like doing comedy. I think people need to have a laugh.' If early audience reactions are any indication, How To Talk Australians might be exactly what they are looking for.
How To Talk Australians is out in cinemas June 11.
