Mumbai: Days after BJP-led government offered benefits to private players to make marathi films, it has now issued a directive for multiplexes in the state. In a controversial move, the BJP- Shiv Sena Government in Maharashtra is set to enact a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes in the state to screen Marathi movies during prime time slots.

Culture Minister Vinod Tawde disclosed this in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

“We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films during prime time,” Tawde said in his reply to a debate on preservation of historical forts, Marathi language and culture.

The new directive from Fadnavis government has asked all multiplex in the state to show Marathi film everyday in the prime slot of 6 to 9 pm. It also makes it compulsory for theatres to play a short documentary in respect of Dada Saheb Falke before the movie starts. Earlier, playing national anthem only was mandatory.

The directive is a part of Maharashtra government’s initiative ‘Make in Maharashtra’, on the lines of ‘Make in India’. The initiative focuses on creating business friendly environment for enterprises by easing the process.

Movie industry is divided on the issue.

CBFC member Deepti Naval in a television interview said that the directive from Maharashtra Government will set wrong precedent. And this will kill the industry. On the other hand, Riteish Deshmukh, Lai Bhaari actor and son of Late Vilasrao Deshmukh, feels the news is a welcome change.