Don't divide Indian cinema: Priyanka Chopra

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'Desi girl' Priyanka Chopra’s Marathi film production ‘Ventilator’ wins three honours at the 64th National Film Awards. She says that regional cinema is getting the credit it deserves and there should not be any comparison between who won more – Hindi or regional films.

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Don't divide Indian cinema: Priyanka Chopra

Every year, when the National Film Award winners are announced, a tally is drawn between who won more -- Hindi or regional films. For actress-producer Priyanka Chopra, they are all, after all, Indian.

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This divide between regional and Hindi cinema is uncalled for, affirmed Priyanka, whose Marathi film production ‘Ventilator’ won three honours at the 64th National Film Awards.

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"I am not a negative person. I'd like to think that finally regional cinema is getting the credit it deserves because there are too many incredible storytellers and filmmakers there. As they get opportunities, and producers back them, regional films are getting more exposure and, of course, they will do well.”

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"I don't think there should be a comparison because, eventually, we are all Indian and these are all Indian films," Priyanka told IANS over phone from New York, living up a deja vu moment -- she was in the same city when she won the Best Actress National Film Award for ‘Fashion’ in 2010.

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"I am extremely excited that Indian cinema -- whether it is regional or Hindi -- has grown leaps and bounds and it is making such incredible films. I'd like to focus more on that than dividing us," added the former beauty queen, who has garnered visibility in American showbiz, and spearheads the banner Purple Pebble Pictures with her mother Madhu Chopra.

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Under her banner, so far Bhojpuri entertainer ‘Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi’, Punjabi film ‘Sarvann’ and the Marathi movie ‘Ventilator’ have seen the light of day. More are in the pipeline: Sikkimese movie ‘Pahuna’, Marathi film ‘Kay Re Rascala’, Konkani film ‘Little Joe, Kaha Ho?’ and two Bengali films – ‘Brishtir Oppekhyayy’ and ‘Bus Stop E Keu Nei’ -- apart from one in Hindi.

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"My reason for setting up this company was to give opportunities where opportunities were denied, or give opportunities where they were not provided... And we only do that based on content and merit," Priyanka explained, pointing out the decision to make a Sikkimese film "because no film has ever been made in Sikkim".

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And when not one but three National Awards come along for one of such projects, it is highly encouraging, said the 34-year-old.

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‘Ventilator’, an endearing story of a joint family whose eldest member is on a medical ventilator, won the awards in the categories Best Director for Rajesh Mapuskar, Best Editing for Rameshwar Bhagat and Best Sound Mixing for Alok De at the 64th National Film Awards.

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