Close on the heels of the beef ban the Maharashtra government has now decided to make the screening of Marathi films compulsory in multiplexes across the city between 6pm to 9pm.

Close on the heels of the beef ban the Maharashtra government has now decided to make the screening of Marathi films compulsory in multiplexes across the city between 6pm to 9pm. The new rule will require the cinema halls to give the Marathi films their due or face losing their licence.

The government has made it mandatory to screen a Marathi movie in one hall of all multiplexes between 6-9pm every day.

The BJP government has also made it mandatory for movie halls to play the national anthem as well as a song that honours Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema before film screenings.

After issuing the directive, the Devendra Fadnavis government, however, warned MNS and Shiv Sena against creating a ruckus at multiplexes if they don't conform immediately.

In 2010, the Congress government too wanted to bring in a similar practice. However, they didn't specify the airing time for the film. They stipulated that all multiplexes have to screen 112 shows of Marathi films every year.

In fact, in 2010, the government had hauled up three multiplexes for not abiding by the new rule.

Former home minister RR Patil, who passed away earlier this year, had said, "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."

Patil had added, "The issue of Marathi cinema is not a commercial project. It is an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural policy. If cinema is alive the artiste will flourish."