Mumbai: Following the recent beef ban, Maharashtra government has now asked multiplexes in the city to screen Marathi language films between 6pm to 9pm (prime-time slot).
In addition to this new rule, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also made it compulsory to play a song in honour of late Dada Saheb Phalke, before the national anthem is played in the cinemas.
This new directive was most likely created as a method to counter the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Shiv Sena’s ‘Marathi Manoos’ campaign.
The CM however has warned Shive Sena and MNS against creating a commotion outside multiplexes if they do not conform to the new law immediately.
State Home Minister RR Patil told a leading daily, “Hereafter, it will be mandatory for all 27 multiplexes in Mumbai to give Marathi cinema prime time slots. The permission for new multiplexes will be sanctioned only if they dedicate a separate screen entirely to Marathi cinema.â€