Tuesday, April 5 2005 18:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: There was a growing curiosity over Indian films and it was time that the Indian film industry whetted the appetite by producing quality films and ensuring effective marketing and promotion of these films overseas, according to megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

"Indian cinema is breathing robustly," Amitabh said, while delivering a lecture on the theme "Entertainment-it is happening in India" at the 'FICCI-Frames 2005' in Mumbai yesterday (Apr 4, 2005)

However, it was time India also took some lessons from other Asian countries like China, Korea and Thailand, he added.

Pointing out that it was the rooted-in-the-soil films of Iran that created ripples internationally, Amitabh said that it was films from China like the Crouching Tiger and those from Korea and Thailand that were currently making waves internationally.

Indian films like 'Veer Zara', 'Lagaan' and 'Devdas' had also got theatrical releases abroad, leading to curiosity about Indian films. "It is time to tap this curiosity and explore," he said.

However, it was also time to boost marketing and promotional strategies in the international market and correct distribution system.