United by cinema

 

 

FILMMAKER Rohit Shetty says he does not like terms like Bollywood, Kollywood and Tollywood as he believes Indian cinema is one and filmmakers from different languages should work towards making it better. "It should be one nation, one celebration and one cinema that is Indian cinema. I think it's high time that we all come together again. Bollywood,Tollywood, earlier it was said as a joke.

 

It's not something to be proud of, being called Bollywood. "We are Hindi cinema, Indian cinema,Telugu cinema. I think it's high time we all come together and make Indian cinema proud,” Shetty told reporters at the launch of the Indian National Cine Academy (INCA) recently. The 51-year-old filmmaker, known for films such as Golmaal franchise, Singham franchise and Chennai Express, said the remake culture among the Hindi and south cinema has been there since the 1950s.

 

“Since the inception of cinema, the film production houses of the south, their directors have been making films here (in Hindi) and the films from here have been remade there as well... L V Prasad sir is such a huge director, he made so many films here (in Hindi). In the 70s, Amit ji's films were remade in the south. Till today, they remake 3 Idiots, Kahani, Queen,” he said. "I think we should all celebrate cinema now. The world is shrinking due to social media. Everyone knows each other. Every state child knows the actors are from which (film) industry,” he concluded.