The Maharashtra government has made it compulsory for all cinemas in the state to screen Marathi films for at least four weeks in a year. Cinemas not doing so will henceforth be penalised. The penalty amount could go up to Rs. 10 lakh. The decision was announced by Maharashtra’s cultural minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar, on May 16.
The state government took this decision as the Marathi film trade lobby felt that Marathi films were being shortchanged by cinemas in the state.