Marathi annual drama meet begins in Thane

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today said Marathi theatre should also have a separate tag like Bollywood as the artists have found their place in cinema from the theatre.
He inaugurated 96th 'Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan' here.
"Marathi and Bengali theatre have history and this needs to be preserved and protected. A permanent museum should be erected for this purpose," he said.
Uddhav also assured theatre artists and back-stage personnel to solve their problems.
"The issues faced by the drama artists are different from those of the cine artists," he added.
Eminent dramatist Gangaram Gavankar presided over the Sammelan and delivered the inaugural speech.

Also present on the occasion are Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare, outgoing president of the Natya Sammelan Faiyaz, ministers, Marathi Natya Parishad president Mohan Joshi were present.
During his speech, Joshi sought reservation of beds for back-stage artists in civic-run hospitals and concession in tax for children's plays in theatres.
Faiyaz and Gavankar also spoke on the occasion.