Bollywood is new target on MNS’s anti-migrant radar

“This will be neccessary as we do not want any problem after the film’s release,” said Amey Khopkar, president of the Association.

He said the association would not tolerate depiction of Maharashtrians and Marathi culture in poor light.

“Besides, referring to Mumbai as Bambai or Bombay will not be allowed,” he said.

Meanwhile, film personalities were not willing to comment on the development. The Mumbai film industry has over the years been the single most attraction that draws huge population from all parts of the country to the city known as the entertainment capital of India.

When asked for his reaction, Supran Sen, secretary of the Film Federation of India (FFI) said that the federation has not received any communication from MNS so far.

“We have been reading about this only from the newspapers. There is already an established authority, Central Board for Film Certication (CBFC) to do the job,” he added.

Khopkar said the MNS cine workers union will give priority for Marathi speaking people for jobs in the industry. “We will check the ration cards and domiciles of the workers. The workers may not neccessarily be Maharashtrians, but should be a resident of the state for more than 15 years,” he added.

Asked if the Association will function independently or be part of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees or (FWICE), Khopkar said the MNS Cine Workers Association would not approach anyone.

“But we are working on something which you will come to know soon,” he added.

To a question on why the Association was formed after nearly five months of the formal announcement, Khopkar said MNS was in the process of naming office-bearers who then met cine workers and understood the problems faced by them in the industry.

“We spoke to about 600 to 700 people,” he added. Asked about the present functioning of the cine workers associations in Mumbai, Dharmesh Tiwari, Secretary of FWICE, said Associations of 23 different crafts of the film industry are members of FWICE.23 different crafts of the film industry.

“If there is any problem between workers and producers, there is a joint settlement committee to settle disputes. FWICE works for the welfare of cine workers and also fights for their rights,” he added.

FWICE is affiliated to All India Film Employees fights Confederation.

“It is the mother body of all cine workers, Associations in the country,” he added.