'Let people decide on compulsory screening of Marathi movies'

Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Sunday said the people of Maharashtra should decide whether screening of Marathi movies in the state should be made compulsory.

"I think it (matter) should be left to the public to decide," Kher said here on the sidelines of a media interaction organised by Roots In Kashmir.

Noting that regional cinema -- especially Marathi films -- was doing well in the country, Kher said it should be supported.

"Marathi cinema is doing very well. I believe the regional cinema should also be supported. Some sort of preference should be given to regional cinema and Bollywood alone should not represent India," he said.

The Maharashtra government announced on April 7 that it was considering making screening of Marathi films compulsory in multiplexes in the state during peak hours.

However, two days later, the government relaxed the norms after drawing flak from several quarters and declared that Marathi movies can be screened between 12 noon and 9 p.m., instead of the earlier stipulated 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.