Sena, MNS ‘force’ plexes to screen Marathi movie; reduce Ek Tha Tiger shows

Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 14, 2012)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena and the MNS are arm-twisting multiplexes into retaining a Marathi film despite most of them wanting to keep as many screens as possible for Salman Khan-starrer Ek Tha Tiger, which they believe will be a money-spinner.

Sena and MNS cine wing members met multiplex representatives and asked them not to pull out the Marathi film, Bharatiya, from screens. Abhijit Gholap, the film’s producer, accompanied them.

Sources said the initial understanding was to replace Bharatiya with Ek Tha Tiger, which releases on Wednesday. However, in view of the Sena and MNS’s “pressure tactics”, some multiplexes have reportedly agreed to continue screening the Marathi film.

Justifying the move, Gholap told TOI: “My film is doing well at the box office. A lot of revenue will be lost if it is withdrawn now.”

While the Sena claimed to have take the step in the interests of the Marathi film industry and audience, the MNS went a step further and threatened to take action against the multiplexes if Bharatiya was withdrawn.

Maharashtra Cine and Television Sena president Akshay Bardarpurkar said: “We don’t want to deprive the audience of a good film. We also want to send a message to the state and reiterate our stand that Marathi movies should not be pulled out like this and given ‘second-hand’ treatment. A government resolution should be passed to this effect.”

Girish Wankhede of Cinemax said they would “accommodate the Marathi film”.

Sources say the advance booking for Ek Tha Tiger has been impressive. Distributor-exhibitor Ramesh Sippy said: “A producer using political pressure is bad for business unless the film merits it.”

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Pandurang Mhaske (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2012)

Political outfits in the state have not taken too kindly to theatre owners’ decision to replace the Marathi film Bhartiya with Ek Tha Tiger within a week. On Monday, representatives from both Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest at the PVR multiplex in Lower Parel after producer of Bhartiya, Abhijeet Gholap apparently appealed to both parties to save his film.
Both the parties ordered the multiplex management to let the Marathi film complete a week’s run at least. If PVR fails to comply, they may have to face further agitation from both parties.

MNS complained that theatre owners are often partial to big budget Bollywood productions and sideline Marathi cinema. “The state government has issued guidelines to theatre owners about Marathi films, but they do not follow it. If they are not ready to comply, we will start a protest,” said Shalini Thackeray, secretary of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena (MNS’s film wing).

Interestingly, on Monday, after MNS representatives were done protesting in the theatre, Shiv Sena took over. They also submitted a memorandum to the theatre management and asked them to follow the guidelines issued by the state government.

“Actually, the theatre management had planned to remove Bhartiya from their screens. However, we issued a warning to them yesterday. After that, they dropped their plan,” said Abhijeet Panase, President of Bhartiya Chitrapat Sena (Shivsena’s film wing).
“If other multiplexes fail to follow the government’s guideline, we will take things in our hands,” added Panase.