The right and wrong of it

The idea is to make the viewers feel content after watching a film. They should feel that the movie is worth their hard-earned money. But now if the subject is good,some technical fault mars the film. The look may be that of a Bollywood movie to lure the audience,but the content fall flat.When Maharashtra has numerous talented writers and popular literature,I wonder why their work is not given due importance and explored? Now viewers usually wonder why they spend money to watch a particular Marathi film at all? Having said that,there have been films like Natarang,Harishchandrachi Factory,Lalbaug Parel and Parad,to name a few,that have made an impact at the box office as well as in the minds of the people. In fact,on popular demand,a theatre in Pune had to increase one show of Parad which is a good sign.

Coming back to the recent upheaval,on the demand of the Shiv Sena,the multiplex-owners even okayed lowering Marathi film ticket rates. According to Uddhav Thackeray,the idea was that these movies should be made affordable to the audience,which in turn will attract more viewers to theatres. The move will help the Marathi film industry to sustain. But one multiplex saw only seven people at a screening. Is it worth screening the film then from the business point of view? Who is to bear the losses?

Meanwhile,the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray had warned multiplex owners,who were not screening Marathi movies,at prime time slots,of dire consequences. The MNS activists also vandalised some multiplexes for not following his ‘orders’.

Riteish Deshmukh was one of the first actors to support the Marathi filmmakers’ demand for prime slot “in an attempt to promote and cultivate regional cinema,” he had tweeted. The filmmakers and artistes even met Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and demanded that multiplex owners should screen a stipulated number of Marathi film shows at prime time slots. He has promised to take necessary steps and find a way out. “This is the golden jubilee year of Maharashtra and the government will take steps to protect Marathi culture and language,” he said.

Regional films have to be recognised because apart from South Indian films,other regional movies do not reach the audience mainly because of lack of content. As for Marathi films,it had a good number of followers initially but that is gradually dwindling. One wonders whether after the intrusion of politicians,the matter will get resolved especially when there is a huge question mark over the quality of Marathi films!