Indian cinema to turn 100, celebs applaud its accomplishments

Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) The Indian film industry will celebrate 100 years of its existence in 2013. Celebrities are excited and say that the progress and growth of the cinema in the last 10 decades have been outstanding.

On May 3 1913, India's first full-length feature film "Raja Harishchandra" was first shown in public. Although it was a silent film, it marked the advent of the Indian film industry.

Here is what some of film fraternity members have to say about the centenary celebration:

Anu Malik: It is a very big day. Not just for the Hindi film industry but for the regional industry as well - for the Marathi cinema, Gujarati and Bengali cinema. I think the kind of progress our entire Indian cinema has done is outstanding. Today, we are on par with Hollywood.

Dia Mirza: There is a certain aestheticism that has come into the Indian cinema that is worthy of applause. I have just done a Bengali film and I was exposed to a lot more Bengali films. I have realised that we tend to live in a pigeon hole perspective. There is so much more to Indian cinema than the Hindi films.

Anurag Basu: I am a small part of this journey, but I am part of it. It's a very happy occasion but we have to cross many milestones in future.

Juhi Chawla: The industry has given me more than what I dreamt of and if you people are in front of me and listening to me, then it is because of this industry and I am eternally grateful.

Dhanush: I am really glad that I am also a tiny part of the cinema. I wish I can learn more and contribute more to Indian cinema.