National Anthem is being played in most cinema halls in Chennai though it is optional
Posted on: 05/Mar/2018 10:13:07 AM
It is known that playing of national anthem in the theatres before the starting of a film is not compulsory now.
The latest news that has come out is section of cinema halls in Chennai have stopped playing national anthem for 52 seconds but it is very clear that most theatres in Chennai plays this national anthem.
Playing national anthem in theatres in India was made compulsory from the date 16th of November in the year 2016 and the main purpose was to increase patriotism in the people. This order from SC was not received well by the film going people and many found it unnecessary as they lose their happy and enjoyment mood .
Later Supreme Court of India made it optional for the cinema halls to play national anthem is known. It must be noted that in the last few days few cinema halls in Chennai stopped playing national anthem before the commencement of the film. It is now said that most theatres play this Rabindranath Tagore composed national anthem before the film.
Mr Abirami Ramanathan, president of multiplex association and owner of popular ‘Abirami theatre’ in Purasawakkam expressed his thoughts in this issue. He spoke about how the apex court made it optional to play national anthem in theatres before the beginning of the film but many theatres are screening it.
He also made it clear that decision regarding this playing national anthem in theatres has not been taken by the association till now.
It must not be forgotten that after SC ordered all the cinema halls in India to play national anthem before beginning the film and made the people to compulsory stand during national anthem there were many cases registered against the people who did not stand up when national anthem was played. Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 many cases were registered and this created many issues.
Then in the month of January in 2018 SC of India grabbed many eyeballs when it modified its interim order and said that playing national anthem before the film in the cinema halls in India is not compulsory. It is important to note that while delivering the verdict Mr Dipak Misra who is the chief justice of India said that it was not compulsory to play national anthem in the theatres. The decision to play this national anthem before the film in theatres depends on the theatre owners and this was confirmed by the bench.
