NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the country’s brand identity as a nation of entertaining cinema was not due to Bollywood alone and was the creative genius of cinema in all languages that also contributed immensely to the multicultural identity of the Indian film movement.

Cine Artists also contributed in positioning India’s imprint as a nation with rich cinematic history world wide by being Goodwill Ambassadors for the country, she said.

Inaugurating a three-day retrospective of the films of veteran actor Kamal Haasan, she said Retrospectives of films provided an opportunity to view the work of an artist over a span of time. It represented the spectrum of work, showcasing the sensitivity of the artist towards different characters, ideas, issues and images. A retrospective of films was a visual feast for the movie buff, as it provided an opportunity to view classics and also reflect their impact on society and human life.

She said Haasan had balanced cinema with realism. His portrayal of different characters created a pan India phenomenon, breaking the barriers of age groups, language and commercial interest. Some of the character portrayals left a deep imprint across all generations. His multilingual cinematic versatility ensured a fan following reiterating his mass appeal and acceptance of his cinema as a unique artistic expression.

The Directorate of Film Festivals has organised this retrospective to celebrate 50 years of Kamal Haasan’s contribution to Indian Cinema.

While the opening film is ‘Hey Raam’, films such as Anbe Sivam, Virumaandi, Thevar Magan, Sagara Sangamam, Dasavatharam and Nayagan would be screened during the three-day festival.