New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) After playing it safe for years, Bollywood is finally opening up and promoting sensitive films on communal violence and social or political issues. One can say that it is finally coming of age and embracing reality cinema in a big way!

Deepa Mehta's "Water", which has been nominated for the Oscars, and Anurag Kashyap's "Black Friday" are important cases in point.

While Indo-Canadian filmmaker Mehta came all the way to Delhi and Mumbai last week to promote her film, based on the plight of widows in pre-independence India, Kashyap's film is being promoted by Adlabs, one of the leading Indian production and distribution houses.

Filmmaker Ravi Chopra has decided to release "Water" across India and said he believes in only "promoting good films". Chopra stressed that one shouldn't undermine the intelligence of the audience.

"We are releasing it because of the audience, who like reality based films. Ultimately, a production company makes a film which the audiences would like," Chopra told IANS.

He is unfazed by threats of right wing Hindu groups. Though the film will kindle the controversy again, Chopra feels it will eventually subside after people see the film and are taken in by its beauty.

Mehta was forced to shelve shooting of the film in Varanasi in 1999 after Hindu groups objected to the film's subject, torched the sets and burnt her effigies. She later shot the film in Sri Lanka.

"It's a beautiful romantic film and we always want to back good films... we try to make good films ourselves. Having said that, I add that one can't control anything. But I have a lot of faith in the people and I am sure they will understand," Chopra said.