After the controversial ban on sale and consumption of beef, the Maharashtra government is courting controversy with its brand new proposal.
Culture Minister Vinod Tawde on Tuesday said that multiplexes in Mumbai should screen at least one Marathi film during the prime time slot which is between 6 PM and 9 PM.
Speaking on the floor of the assembly, Tawde said that a proposal was being drawn which would make it compulsory for multiplexes to screen a Marathi film in the prime time slot. He said it was a great way of promoting Marathi films in Mumbai.
However, it is not yet clear if this proposal would mean cancelling shows of Hindi or English films. The directive from the state government is yet to be issued. Reports suggest that there might be an incentive for multiplexes to comply with the pitch made by Tawde.
However, initial reactions from the film industry have been mixed. While some called it an unnecessary imposition on filmgoers, others welcomed the news.
Speaking to CNN-IBN, actor and producer Riteish Deshmukh said that while the move will give the Marathi film industry a boost, the government should take the final decision after consulting all the stakeholders.
The people’s first choice is of course Hindi cinema because the product is sort of larger than life. Marathi films find it difficult to compete also because their budget is restricted. But I feel sometimes regional cinema needs to be cultivated to find its way forward.....this decision won’t hurt Bollywood much but will give Marathi movies a big boost.
- Riteish Deshmukh, Actor and Producer
Riteish is the son of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, a former Congress Chief Minister.
But filmmaker Ashoke Pandit was blunt in his reaction. “We don’t live in a dictatorship. The choice must be left to producers and owners of the multiplexes,” he said.
If the film is a hit it will automatically be in the prime time slot. Tomorrow you (the government) will say only this soap or shampoo should be used. If Hindi films don’t run even they do not get the prime time slot.
- Ashoke Pandit, Filmmaker
Pandit clarified that he was not against Marathi cinema.
Producer Mukesh Bhatt was not so welcoming either. He said that the Maharashtra government should consider more movie theatres to screen Marathi films.
Actor Shreyas Talpade strongly supported the move. He said that a prime time show will certainly help increase visibility.
Such a move would have helped me six months ago. Even when there were no Hindi films, we didn’t get a slot. But of course industry veterans must be consulted.
- Shreyas Talpade, Actor
Congress leader Milind Deora while supporting the idea, took the chance to accuse the government of over-interference. Deora said the series of bans that have been put in place by the government, be it on sale and consumption of beef or ban on movies, contradict the BJP’s Maximum Governance, Minimum Government notion.
I am all for the promotion of Marathi cinema. But the larger question is not about promoting Marathi film but the arm twisting without a discussion.
- Milind Deora, Congress leader
Film critic Meenakshi Shedde was against the decision because she didn’t think that such a diktat would necessarily benefit the Marathi film industry.
The logic is not clear. By bumping off Bollywood movies from primetime, you will not see a rush of viewers who will suddenly want to go watch Marathi films.
- Meenakshi Shedde, Film Critic
Author Shobhaa De took to Twitter to express her discontent.
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