Time to take Indian cinema to global audience: Shabana

Jun 7, 2012 Priyanka Sharma

Singapore, June 7 (IANS) The Indian film industry completes 100 years in 2013 and veteran actress Shabana Azmi says it's time to take it on to the global platform and tell them to "embrace us" the way we are.

"As we celebrate our 100 years and the world shrinks to become a global village, it is evident that we need to celebrate cultures within their own paradigms," said Shabana at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards Thursday.

"It is important to take it to the international community and tell them, this is who we are, embrace us and we are not going to tailor it according to your idea," she added.

At home, the focus has been more on Bollywood, but now regional films are also getting attention. For instance, IIFA, a Wizcraft International Entertainment's initiative, will screen Kamal Haasan's "Vishwaroopam".

"Till now we have been looking at only Hindi cinema, but it is now becoming evident that we have to start celebrating Indian cinema. We are now celebrating the south Indian film industry, the pioneer of which is Kamal Haasan. We are also planning to take it to other regional cinemas because India is not a homogenous country and not a homogenous audience," said Shabana.