After years of prohibiting Marathi dubbing of Bollywood films, MNS gives go-ahead to Ajay Devgn's period drama Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 22, 2019)

Over past several years, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has staunchly prohibited the dubbing of Hindi films into Marathi, arguing that they will eat into the business of Marathi offerings. However, the party has made an exception for Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. Since the Om Raut-directed venture trains the spotlight on the 17th century Maratha general Tanaji Malusare, the MNS is keen that it get a wide release. Amey Khopkar, who heads the MNS' film wing, says that the party has decided to make an exception for the war drama.

"We are proud of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's achievements along with his warriors. I hope the film is dubbed in as many as languages as possible so that the world can get to know about their achievements. Dubbing the film in Marathi will increase the audience in the state and across the country."

Trade guru Amod Mehra analyses that the film will enjoy a huge advantage owing to this move. "The practice of not dubbing films in Marathi is the result of an unsaid understanding between the two industries to encourage the growth of regional films. But this is a welcome change. In all likelihood, the film will enjoy additional 500 screens."

Welcoming the decision, Devgn says, "It's a privilege to share the story of a Maratha warrior in his mother tongue. We will dub the film in Marathi soon."

With the government’s latest directive, cinegoers are hoping that from August 1, they will be allowed to carry food from outside into theatres, and buy eatables like popcorn and samosa at a lesser price from counters inside the premises
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 15, 2018)

The Maharashtra Government on Friday stated that moviegoers can’t be stopped from carrying outside food into multiplexes, and that from August 1, it will impose a ban on the dual MRP (maximum retail price) for packaged food and drinks. The move, if imposed, will not only allow moviegoers to carry food bought from outside into theatres, but also considerably reduce the price of eatables sold inside multiplexes.

While Mumbaikars are welcoming the move, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) is opposed to it. In fact, a case on the matter, in which the MAI is also a party, is already pending before the Bombay High Court, and it’s scheduled to be heard on 25 July.

While the exorbitant prices of food items at multiplexes have always raised concerns, the issue once again grabbed headlines two weeks ago, when a Pune multiplex employee was publically thrashed by the workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Amey Khopkar of MNS Chitrapat Sena told us, “It’s a great move by the state government, but implementation is the key. Multiplexes should be forced to follow the directive. They were previously directed to compulsorily screen Marathi movies in at least one of their screens, but that has not been followed in most places. This directive at least should be implemented and the licences of defaulters should be snatched away.”

WILL THE STATE DIRECTIVE ON CARRYING FOOD INSIDE THEATRES BE IMPLEMENTED?
On the other hand, Deepak Asher, President, MAI, said, “Since the matter is currently sub-judice, and since we have no other formal communication from any regulatory authority, we would not like to comment any further on the matter.”

Nitin Datar, President, The Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, prefers to wait and watch. “The 1966 rule, which the Maharashtra Government has cited, is silent on carrying food inside and was passed when multiplexes didn’t exist. There is a grey area here, and I’m keen to know what’s there in this order for single screens, because the food at these places is priced moderately. I hope there is nothing in it for us that burdens single screens and forces them to hike ticket costs or the prices of food,” he said.

MUMBAIKARS REJOICE
Despite the air of uncertainty, Mumbaikars seem happy about the move. However, some of them also have concerns that cleanliness of the auditoria might go for a six if people drop food and wafer packets on the floor.

Anjali Damani, a choreographer, said, “I welcome this move, it’s high time something like this came into practice. There have been so many occasions when my husband and I have gone to a multiplex and have spent more on snacks and coffee than the tickets. Reducing the price of the basic items will be a huge relief for people like us. My only worry is that the tickets might get even more expensive now, because that is the easiest means to make up for losses.”

Historian Deepak Rao added, “My son and grandson either eat at home and go for the movie, or eat at a restaurant after the movie, which makes more sense from the spender’s point of view. Buying snacks inside the theatre is a waste of money. They almost loot the public.”

Namrata Kaur, an insurance professional and the mother of a school-goer, was concerned about the quantity of food that people would be allowed to carry inside. “I think this is a good move, but it needs a lot of clarity in terms of the dos and don’ts for the aam junta. For instance, if a family of 10 heads to the movies, how much food will we be allowed to carry? Is there a cap on how much we can carry per head? Also, certain food items have peculiar smells which some people may find repulsive. So, will they specify what food items are allowed? It would be much nicer if the theatre owners just brought down the price of food sold inside plexes, that alone would be a huge relief,” she opined.

Ruchi Saxena, a chef at a five-star, noted that though the exercise is wellintended, it has to be implemented gradually. “I have two kids and whenever we go out for a movie, they demand a tub of popcorn or samosas. Tickets are costly, but the auditoria are clean and there’s only a certain kind of dry food sold at these places. Maybe, the directive can be implemented in two stages — first, reduce the prices and then declare which items patrons can bring along with them,” she explained.

Vishal Doiphode, an advertising professional, had a word of caution. “I was appalled when I read about the Pune incident. It’s great that in two weeks, the government has issued a directive, but will the high-tax paying multiplexes really be penalised if they disallow patrons from carrying their food inside? Only time can tell how effectively this directive is implemented. We shouldn’t get too happy right now,” he summed up.


THE GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVE
Ravindra Chavan, the Junior Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, said that according to the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1966, cinemas cannot prohibit consumers from carrying food and action will be taken against those who do not allow it. The ban on dual pricing, a practice of charging different prices for the same product in different places, will be brought into force from August 1. In response, the Multiplex Association of India has stated in its official letter that none of the multiplex cinema theatres operated by any of their members had received any order, notification or communication with respect to the directive from the Government of Maharashtra or any other regulatory authority. This was their stance till the time we went to press.

MNS cine wing president Amey Khopkar explains logic behind the call for ban of Pakistani artistes
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 24, 2016)

Why are you asking Pakistani artistes to leave India?
Pakistan has always created trouble in India. The Uri attacks crossed all limits and we have decided not to spare anyone. If the Pakistani artistes don’t go back, we will take action in our style.

What do you mean by "our style"?
We will beat them and send them back to Pakistan. We will also take strict action against producers if they work with Pakistani artistes.

What about Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (featuring Fawad) and Raees (with Mahira Khan) that’ve already been shot?
We won’t allow them to release in Maharashtra under any circumstances. We don’t need the services of Pakistanis.

Why target producers and production houses?
We have enough talent in our country, but they (producers) work with Pakistani actors to instigate us. Pakistani kalakaar toh maar khaayenge hi, hum yeh producer/ director ko bhi peetenge.

What do Pak artistes have to do with terrorism?
What if any of these Pakistani artistes does a recce and passes on information to terrorists for attacks?

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's cine wing fears 'M S Dhoni - The Untold Story' dubbed in Marathi may set unfair competition for regional films
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 22, 2016)

The ambitious plan to release 'M S Dhoni - The Untold Story' in Marathi has run into a tricky political speed-breaker. Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (CKS), the film affairs wing of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, has taken exception to the cricketer's biopic being dubbed in Marathi, saying it will lead to 'unfair' competition for regional films.

As reported 'Dhoni talks in Marathi', director Neeraj Pandey had said that the Indian cricket captain being "one of India's favourite sons and by far, the most successful Indian cricket captain" was reason enough for them to release his biopic in multiple languages.

Amey Khopkar, chief of CKS, says, "We have no objection to the film as such. In fact, I am planning to watch it. The problem, however, lies with the dubbed version. If one producer releases his film in Marathi, it will pave the way for the others too. That is a scary scenario since regional filmmakers already face a lot of problems in getting screens at multiplexes. Bharatmata cinema, a single screen theatre in Lalbaug, plays only Marathi films. If they too start screening dubbed films, where will our producers and directors go?"

The biopic featuring Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead is set to release towards September-end. The makers unveiled the Marathi trailer last week. Khopkar says he received numerous calls from actors, directors and producers from the regional film industry, expressing concern over the impending competition.

"That was when we decided to write to the producers of Dhoni with a request not to dub the film since it will eat into the business of local films. We hope to hear from them today. If they don't respond, we will decide our next course of action," he adds.

Eyeing multiplex primetime slot?

Last year, the state government decided to make it mandatory for multiplexes to show at least one Marathi film during prime time hours and consider any one of the three shows — 12 to 3 pm, 3 to 6 pm and 6 to 9 pm. Will the makers of Dhoni biopic aim at the prime time slot for the Marathi dubbed version? An insider says, "It’s too early to talk about distribution and show timings."