Govt mandates at least one screening of Bengali films during prime time in all cinemas

In a significant move to boost the Bengali film industry, the West Bengal government has mandated the daily screening of at least one Bengali film during prime time in all cinema halls and multiplexes across the state.

The directive, issued by order of the Governor and signed by Principal Secretary Santanu Basu, was announced via a notification today. It states that every cinema hall and every screen within a multiplex must hold a minimum of 365 prime time screenings of Bengali films annually, ensuring at least one show per day throughout the year.

The notification specifies that "prime time shows" are defined as screenings held between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

This order, which supersedes a previous notification from September 14, 2018, comes into immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice. The government also indicated that necessary amendments to the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation of Public Exhibitions) Rules, 1956, will be made to align with the new policy.

The decision is a direct result of the state government's efforts to encourage the Bengali film industry and ensure that local productions receive adequate screen space and commercial opportunity. The move is expected to have a considerable impact on the local film industry, potentially increasing box office revenue and investment.