CM Devendra Fadnavis’ rule on Marathi films runs into protests.
AB Wire
MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has mandated that multiplex cinema owners in his state show Marathi movies during the prime hours of 6 to 9 p.m. in one of their theaters.
The Times of India reported that failure to comply with the order would lead to a cancellation of the establishment’s license. The BJP-Shiv Sena government’s ultimatum has raised hackles in Bollywood, drawing instant criticism from the industry.
As per the new rules, it will also be compulsory to play a song as an ode to Dada Saheb Phalke, who was known as father of Indian cinema. To date, only playing the national anthem was mandatory.
Veteran actor Deepti Naval told Times Now: “This will set a wrong precedent.”
Filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt also criticized the latest order coming from the state government.
“Government is taking random decisions because they want to please some vote bank. Stakeholders were not called,” Bhatt said.
The new mandates come hot on the heels of a beef ban imposed by the state which has raised quite a few eyebrows domestically and around the world. The Maharashtra state government completely outlawed the possession of beef, imposing religious dietary restrictions on Hindus and non-Hindus alike. Violators can be punished by up to five years in prison.
The law had long been sought by Hindu right-wingers, and some feel it ostracizes India’s other religious demographics.
In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, an activist, slammed the law, which she said unfairly affects poorer members of the country’s Christian, Muslim and Dalit communities who are reliant on beef because it is generally cheaper than chicken.
“The decision to ban beef is a communal one targeted at the marginalized Muslims and Dalits,” she stated, adding that the decision was tantamount to the government “entering our kitchens and asking us what to eat.” She concluded by calling the beef ban “an extremely personal attack.”