Mumbai : After taking beef off the menu, the state government has decided to redefine prime time movie experience in multiplexes.
It has been accordingly decided to make screening of Marathi movies mandatory in multiplexes across the state during prime time (6 PM to 9PM). A law is likely to be enacted for this purpose, Cultural Minister Vinod Tawde said in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
While Marathi movie buffs welcomed the initiative, the non-Marathi speaking public was sceptical about the seemingly well-meaning move, which they see as a ploy to divert attention from real issues like civic amenities and farmers’ suicides.
The Government is also preparing a short film on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, for screening in theatres, Tawde said, adding that it will be shown after the national anthem. This, too, will be mandatory viewing.
Veteran author Shobha De was quoted by a TV channel as saying that the government should have consulted stakeholders before taking the decision on screening of Marathi movies, and asked if the government is willing to give subsidy to multiplexes.
But even if multiplexes play along – usually they are left with little choice in such matters – a prime time slot is no guarantee that the cash registers will start ringing for Marathi movies. At the end of the day, the regional movies will have to compete with the technically superior and multi-cast Bollywood blockbusters.
Mumbai has a mixed population and a good proportion of people are non-Marathi speaking. Actor Ritesh Deshmukh was quoted in this context as saying, “In Mumbai the first choice is Hindi film, which makes it difficult for a Marathi film to compete.”
Also, it is pointed out that a good movie, be it Marathi or Hindi, will draw crowds wherever it is screened, be it a multiplex or a street corner theatre. Film producer Anubhav Sinha supported the decision saying, “Regional Films must get proper and fair showcasing, especially since Marathi Industry is making such wonderful films.” Writer Shobha De tweeted in zest, “No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only: Will go better with the Marathi movies at prime time.”
Others like Tanuj Garg said decisions on movie programming should be based on “business and revenue potential” and left to “distributors and exhibitors.’’
However, there was a general consensus that no element of coercion should be involved in screening of movies.
In another initiative, a Maharashtra school of drama on the lines of the Delhi-based NSD is proposed at the Phalke Chitranagari (film city) in Mumbai. Efforts will be made to provide fillip to experimental theatre and a separate auditorium at the PL Deshpande Academy in Mumbai has been earmarked for the purpose, Tawde said.
There is also a plan to bring the PL Deshpande Academy, Kolhapur Film City and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Mumbai under one umbrella body, the Minister said. Currently, all these entities are governed by separate bodies.
It’ll be Mumbai everywhere: Vinod Tawde also informed the house that the state government is working towards replacing the word ‘Bombay’ with ‘Mumbai’ everywhere. “Just as Gujarat replaced the word ‘Bombay’ with ‘Gujarat’ during their golden jubilee year, we would replace ‘Bombay’ with ‘Mumbai’ in the laws and legislations in the state. There are 199 laws in which Bombay word is still in use, our government will work towards replacing these with the word Mumbai,” he said.
