Mumbai: In the face of a huge backlash, the Maharashtra government today revised its order forcing multiplexes to screen a Marathi film every evening.
Earlier this week, the government had said that multiplexes must reserve at least one screen for Marathi films between 6 and 9 pm. Now anytime between 12 and 9 pm has been declared acceptable.
The order had provoked fierce criticism from the film industry and others, who accused the government of trying to impose its will on owners of private cinemas.
"This is not good for democracy. You can request cinemas to give a prime time slot to Marathi cinema, you can only request. This is not in good taste," said Ashok Pandit, a member of the national film censor board.
The state government had said it wanted to promote Marathi films.
The previous Congress-NCP government had also made it mandatory for cinemas to show Marathi films. But state Culture Minister Vinod Tawde said the rule was circumvented by owners who screened the regional films at odd hours.
The government's retreat came on a day the Shiv Sena, which is a part of the ruling coalition, led a large protest against writer Shobhaa De, who had criticized the order in her tweets.
The Sena said Ms De has "no right to live in the state" because she has objected to plans to force multiplexes to screen a Marathi film every evening. But the party was criticized by many, including its ally BJP.
"It is a personal attack on every Mumbaikar's freedom," Ms De told NDTV on the Sena's protest.
Her tweets on Wednesday had enraged the Sena. "No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time," Ms De had tweeted.
The BJP made it clear that its ally does not have its support.
"We believe Marathi cinema must be encouraged...but the protest is not necessary," said the BJP's Shaina NC.