National anthem in theatres: Maharashtra govt made it mandatory in 2003
The Supreme Court order mandating that the national anthem be played at cinemas across India is not the first such rule; a similar one was first initiated in Maharashtra more than a decade ago.
The state government had mandated playing the national anthem in theatres on Republic Day in 2003. The then deputy chief minister and home minister Chhagan Bhujbal had issued such orders after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader in Mumbai, Narendra Verma, requested the state to do so.
Verma — who was president of the NCP’s youth wing in Mumbai — had also obtained a master copy of the Naval band’s rendition of the tune, with visuals of film stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan holding the tricolour.
Bhujbal liked the idea and approved Verma’s demand to play the national anthem in 150 theatres after the movie was screened. The move was appreciated by many and garnered praise for Bhujbal, Verma and ultimately, the NCP.
A year later, the Karnataka government also adopted the practice and started playing the national anthem in theatres in Bangalore.
Speaking to HT, Verma said theatres in Maharashtra would play national anthem in the ’80s but only after late-night shows. The practice was discontinued by theatre owners after observing that people did not wait for the anthem, thus disrespecting it.
Read
Good, bad, funny: Twitter reacts to national anthem must in theatres before movies
Supreme Court says yes to national anthem at the cinemas. Where next?
Supreme Court says playing national anthem mandatory in cinema halls
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Delhiwale: This way to Ajmeri Gate
This venerable stone gateway originally signposted the way to the aforementioned pilgrim town. One of the 14 Mughal-era gateways to punctuate the Walled City’s wall, the graceful Ajmeri Gate today is like a queen without her palace.
-
Delhi: Cop’s hunt for kidnapper ends after a 15-year wait
Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sanjeev Tomar’s quest ended on May 28, when he and members of his team arrested a man named Hari Om for abducting and killing Choudhary. Tomar, 47, now posted with the crime branch, was a constable at the Badarpur police station when the crime took place in 2007.
-
89 new trucks to help DFS speed up rescue operations
The approval for purchasing 89 new fire trucks was sought against the condemnation of 60 fire trucks, which have diesel engines and have reached their expiry time of 10 years, and have to be taken off service.
-
ED arrests 2 more in money laundering case against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain
Vaibhav and Ankush were arrested under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ED said both are directors of Ram Prakash Jewellers Pvt Ltd, which was raided on June 6. After the searches at premises linked to six people including the jewellery firm’s five directors, ED said it recovered ₹2.85 crore and 133 gold coins, alleging that the gold was from “unexplained sources” and was “secreted” in the properties.
-
Problem of plenty: Ban no bar, Delhi markets struggle to get rid of plastics
Following the latest notification of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022 in February, the central government directed all states and union territories (UTs) to phase out SUPs in a planned manner by July 1, 2022.
