Stage Set For Indian Cinema Centenary Celebrations

The Creme de la Creme of South India's celluloid world would descend here to celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema, commencing from tomorrow, during which the industry would honour its legends. The four-day event promises all the glitz and fanfare to cine lovers as organisers have lined up glimpses from a host of movies right from the silent movie era to present day technology driven productions.

The mega event celebrating the journey of 100 years will also be featuring programms under the theme 'taking Indian cinema to the next 100 years.' A galaxy of stars from the Hindi film industry will also be joining their counterparts from the four southern states, C Kalyan, President of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, which is organising the extravaganza along with the Tamil Nadu government, told PTI.

Actor and Union Minister Chiranjeevi, along with members of Telugu film fraternity will participate besides Malayalam film icons Mohan Lal and Mammootty. From Karnataka, actor-turned-politician Ambareesh, Shivaraj Kumar are also expected. Commemorating the event, classical movies in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada are being screened since September 16 across various theatres and in parks in city, for which the organisers had made arrangements.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will inaugurate the celebrations at 4 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. She will felicitate awardees from the Tamil film industry. She has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for staging the event and make it a memorable one for the film industry and people. President Pranab Mukherjee will preside over the valedictory on Septmber 24 and witness a grand gala cultural performance rendered by cine stars of south celluloid world.

Popular movies being screened are superhit Nadodi Mannan starring MGR (Tamil), legendary movie Pasa Malar (Sivaji Ganesan) and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NTR's mega hit of the 1950s Maya Bazaar (Telugu). Satya Harishchandra, Bangarada Manushya (Kannada), and Chemmeen (Malayalam).

"It is not only movies. We have also organised magic shows and other cultural programmes," G Chockalingam of Divya Films, who is organising movies in parks for SIFCC, said. Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the event. When asked about the names of awardees, Kalyan said "it is a suspense," and added as many as 50 persons from each of the South Indian language category will be honoured.

There will be felicitation under an 'all India segment' and President Pranab Mukherjee will felicitate awardees under this category, he said. Sources, however, indicated that veteran Tamil actor SS Rajendran and actress Satchu besides renowned film production house AVM are among those who will be honoured. On September 22 by 9 am, Kannada Film Festival will be held in which Karnataka Home Minister, KJ George, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Kannada and Culture Minister Uma Sri will participate.

By 6 pm, Telugu Film Festival will begin. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Damodhar Raja Narasimha, Chiranjeevi, and state's Information Minister TK Aruna will also participate. On September 23 by 10 am, the Malayalam Film Festival will be held. Union Minister Vayalar Ravi and Kerala Culture Minister KC Joseph will participate. Cultural shows will be conducted by each of the South Indian language cinema industry during the celebrations of their language cinema. On September 24 by 5 pm, the valedictory function will be presided by President Pranab Mukherjee. The Chief Ministers of all the Southern States will take part.

IANS