Raj Thackeray meets Marathi filmmakers

Mumbai, Aug 16 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Monday met Marathi producers and directors and urged them to attempt new and different kinds of subjects to bring back Marathi audiences to the cinema halls.

He also urged the Marathi 'manoos' to go to the cinemas and theatres to watch Marathi movies and plays to give a boost to Marathi cinema.

Addressing the filmmakers who included Mahesh Manjrekar, Prasad Oak, Raju Patil, Kedar Shinde, Kishori Shahane and Madhura Jasraj, Thackeray assured them that multiplexes will have to allot primetime slots for Marathi films.

"At the same time, you should attempt to treat subjects differently rather than make movies from the same mould. Audiences do not want to watch stereotyped films," Thackeray said.

Several MNS activists Saturday had staged demonstrations outside multiplexes in Mumbai, Thane and Aurangabad for not screening Marathi films.

"Last week, we showed them what will happen if they don't show Marathi movies," Thackeray said.

Thackeray also mentioned that the party would take up the issue in the winter session of the state legislature and push for an implementation of the government resolution about screening of Marathi films.