After its diktat to multiplexes to screen Marathi films at prime time sparked a furore, the state has decided to widen the time slot during which they can screen the films from 6pm-9pm to noon-9pm.
After its diktat to multiplexes to screen Marathi films at prime time sparked a furore, the state has decided to widen the time slot during which they can screen the films from 6pm-9pm to noon-9pm.
But this change of mind had more to do with the audience for regional cinema than multiplex owners’ interests.
Cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawade said the new timings were meant to ease matters for Marathi films, which “have an audience among the youth and women” who find time for movies mostly in the afternoon hours.
He, however, added that 6pm-9pm will be a priority. “Producers will decide which slot they want,” he said.
What timings do viewers prefer?
Tawade, who met exhibitors and Marathi film industry representatives on Thursday, said Marathi producers had sought that “timings be changed (increased) in accordance with needs of the movies.” Marathi film exhibitors said that while youth preferred the 12 noon to 3 pm slot, women liked to watch movies between 3 pm and 6 pm. Movies shown before 12 noon and after 9 pm will not be counted in the quota of 124 shows.
What is the state’s multiplex policy?
Multiplexes have to show 124 shows of Marathi movies annually, in return for sops like higher FSI and tax holidays — five year entertainment tax concessions (full waiver for three years and partial waiver for two years) — for their business, as per a 2001 state multiplex policy.
What if there is a dispute?
“The priority will be the 6pm-9pm slot but if the producer demands, the slot not before noon and not after 9pm should be made available,” Tawade said, adding that in case there was a dispute, a committee of two exhibitors and two producers would be set up to arbitrate..
What do film exhibitors say?
Marathi film distributor Sameer Dixit of Pickle Entertainment who attended the meeting with Tawde said, “Since there were no curbs earlier, multiplexes, just to fulfil the 124 movies quota, would show them at timings like 8 am and 10 am. Now, there will be a compulsion to show them in prime time,” he added.
Another attendee, Deepak Ashar, president, Multiplex Association of India (MAI), said this was a “solution that balances the needs of all in the sector”. He denied that multiplexes showed Marathi movies at inconvenient timings. Ashar said their data showed that INOX, which had 21 multiplexes across the state, has shown even around 800. “We are all for encouraging regional films,” said Ashar, adding that they had also held a Marathi film festival in Gujarat.
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