Maharashtra’s Minister for Culture, Sudhir Mungantiwar, has called for the development of a comprehensive Marathi film policy to enhance the tradition of content-rich Marathi cinema and expand its commercial potential. Mungantiwar emphasized the need for a dedicated committee to expedite this initiative during a meeting focused on grant allocations for Marathi films.
The meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge, Mumbai’s Chitranagari Managing Director Swati Mhse Patil, and representatives from the All India Marathi Film Producers Association, saw several key decisions. Mungantiwar proposed that Chitranagari, a film production hub, be relocated to Vidarbha, citing the region’s wealth of talent and the need to foster an environment conducive to producing high-quality Marathi films.
Additionally, Mungantiwar announced a new incentive: films directed by women will receive an extra Rs 5 lakh in funding. Marathi films participating in international and national film festivals will be eligible for double subsidies without the need for screening. The Minister also instructed the formation of a grading committee to classify films into three categories—A, B, and C—for subsidy purposes. Kharge indicated that a separate decision will be made regarding films produced during the COVID-19 pandemic.