Short on Phalke coming soon to a theatre near you

As a tribute to Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian Cinema , the state government has said a short film on his life and work will be played mandatorily at theatres and multiplexes.

The short film is being produced by Marathi film director Rajesh Mapuskar and will feature celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, AR Rahman and Gulzar.

Cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawde announced on Sunday that the 55-second film will depict the life and work of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke, and will be ready to screen in a few months.

The film will be played immediately after the national anthem in all cinema halls.

According to sources in the cultural affairs department, the film will depict the life and times of Phalke, who introduced the art of film-making to India with his legendary 1913 film ‘Raja Harishchandra’.

The Industry celebrated 100 years of the film’s premier at the Olympia theatre in south Mumbai on April 21, 2013.

Multiplex owners welcomed the decision and said they will support the government’s move.

“We have put up a portrait of Phalke in every theatre after the Shiv Sena demanded it a few years ago. We respect his contribution to the Indian film industry and will have no problem playing the film,” Arvind Chafalkar, former executive committee member of the Multiplex Association of India, said.

The state also announced to promote Marathi films by making their marketing more effective. “The quality of Marathi films has improved in the last few years. Stakeholders have expressed the need for effective marketing to give them a boost. Along with the subsidy we extend to the films, we are also planning a scheme for their effective marketing,” Tawde said.