Nothing wrong in mandating multiplexes to show Marathi Cinema at prime-time: Kabir Bedi

Mumbai: Veteran actor Kabir Bedi on late Tuesday night came out in support of making it mandatory for multiplexes across the state to screen Marathi films during the prime time slot between 6 and 9 pm.

Bedi took to Twitter to express his thoughts and wrote: “Nothing wrong in CM @Dev_Fadnavis mandating multiplexes to show #MarathiCinema at prime-time, in one of their theatres.”

Nothing wrong in CM @Dev_Fadnavis mandating multiplexes to show #MarathiCinema at prime-time, in one of their theatres. — KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) April 7, 2015

Filmmaker Onir also lauded the move by the BJP-Shiv Sena Government in Maharashtra and said it will inject a new life to the regional film industry.

“Appreciate the move by the govt of Maharashtra to support #Marathi Cinema. Regional cinema all over the country needs state support. Marathi cinema in the recent years have had some beautiful films. They need to be given the screen space to make regional cinema flourish. Providing prime time screen space to #Marathi will help vitalize the industry and provide a healthy competition for good content cinema,” Onir tweeted.

However, talking to an English news channel, filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt, who resides in Mumbai, said that “government is behaving like dictators. It doesn’t seem like we are living in a democratic society...such decisions should be taken collectively”. 

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra government today announced it was mulling to make screening of Marathi films in multiplexes in the state during peak hour compulsory but the decision not only left members of film fraternity shocked, but drew ferocious reactions slamming the government's "dictatorship" and "dadagiri" and that regional movies should be encouraged, not forced.

State Culture Minister Vinod Tawde disclosed that such a law is in the process. "We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi movies during the prime time slot (6-9 pm)," he said in the assembly today.

He also said that soon all cinema halls would screen a short documentary on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of India cinema, to create awareness about his contribution to the film industry.

(With IANS inputs)