Six multiplexes face suspension

The Mumbai police have imposed temporary suspension on screening of films in six multiplexes and 29 single-screen theatres in the city for not showing Marathi movies in 2005-06.

These multiplexes and theatres have to suspend screening of films for a period ranging from a day to eight days for violating a government rule that makes it mandatory for every movie hall to screen Marathi films for four weeks in a year. The police have given a month’s time to the owners to appeal against the decision to the state’s home department.

“We found that 16 multiplexes and 97 single-screen theatres were not following the rule,” Vijaysingh Jadhav, DCP, headquarters, said. “We have served suspension notice on some.

We are in the process of initiating action against the rest,” he said.
The government had brought in the rule to promote Marathi films to save the Marthi film industry. It was left to the owners to decided when they wanted to screening the Marathi films.

In their reply to police, some theatre owners said there wasn’t enough audience for Marathi films, making the exercise non-profitable.

“Theatre owners have  various excuses. We took into consideration their replies while taking the decision,” Jadhav said.