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Shabana: Showcase Indian Parallel Cinema to the World

Shabana Azmi has this penchant for being in the news – for the right or wrong reasons. This time, though, for the right reasons. Recently, she was in London to participate in the month-long retrospective of her films at the National Film Theatre. She was also the key speaker at the Capitalwoman 2003, organized by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations.

The actress, social activist and Member of Parliament said that with the rise of multiplexes in India, the visibility of parallel cinema has increased globally. India, she said, must chalk out a plan to tap the potential of the country’s parallel cinema in the international market. Indian cinema is the biggest ambassador of India and it was important that it be showcased to the world. Shabana has acted in over 140 films and was one of the first actresses in India to carve a niche for herself in ‘parallel cinema’ whose themes were very much outside the ‘formala themes’ of commercial cinema.

The 53 year old actress praised the efforts of the Lagaan team which was India’s first film to be nominated for an Oscar after 40 years. She also took the opportunity to express her admiration for Booker Prize winning author and activist Arundhati Roy. She admired the lady for her guts and for using her pen to champion the causes she believes in. That makes two gutsy ladies!