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Playing national anthem will invite disrespect: Theatre owners

Theatre owners of Mumbai feel that the Maharashtra government's move instructing them to play Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem, after every show is not a good one as it will result in people disrespecting it.

Speaking to rediff.com, Manoj Desai, executive director of the G-7 multiplexes in Bandra, said, "In 1980, there was a rule that made playing the national anthem in theatres compulsory. But nobody stopped and waited for it to get over, thus disrespecting it. So that law was changed. I was surprised when I came to know that the government is planning to reintroduce the old law."

This decision will probably be implemented next year on Republic Day. The idea came from the Nationalist Congress Party, a major constituent in the ruling Democratic Front government.

"I once went to a police station and called the police officer to show him how people were leaving in spite of the national anthem playing. No one can force nationalism on anyone. It has to come from within. If a picture is bad, people don't even wait for the film to end. Moreover, if a mob comes to the doorkeeper he cannot keep the doors shut and tell people to wait," Desai said.

Vithal Ramrao Phule, manager of Chandan cinema in Andheri, said, "The film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has the national anthem in it. The film ran for many weeks in our theatre. But not more than 50 out of the 1300-strong audience stood to respect the song. If people don't stand for the national anthem during the film, how will they wait after the film ends?"

But Hiral Kanakia, director of Cineline, which runs six cinemas in Mumbai, said she had been playing the national anthem in her theatres after every show on Independence Day and Republic Day.

"Our experience is that people respect the national anthem on these two days. But if we play them for all the shows I am not sure they will wait. Though I really hope they do," Kanakia said.

"I know that people run as fast as possible after the show is over. But after watching the film for three hours, they won't lose much if they give two minutes to the anthem," she added.

The composition of Jana Gana Mana by A R Rahman of Bharat Bala Productions will probably be used.

Interestingly, Rahman's composition of the anthem ran into rough weather after the Centre found that his version was taking more than the 52 seconds that the national anthem normally takes. The Centre, however, cleared the anthem later and played it on television.

Speaking to rediff.com, Bharat Bala said, "I will be delighted if the Maharashtra government approaches us. But so far no word has come from them about the proposal."

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