[icernet] Marathi film industry in deep trouble

[Arul Selvan]

The once flourishing Marathi film industry, which boasted of hit films 
like Kunkoo, Manus, Pinjra and Shejari and left an indelible mark on 
Indian cinema with its original storyline, screenplay, and direction, is 
now gasping for breath. Once heralded as cinematically wealthy -- it 
boasted of icons like V Shantaram, Baburao Painter, Bhalji Pendharkar, 
Acharya P K Atre and Master Vinayak -- the industry is, in an ironic 
twist of fate, now begging for recognition from its own 'Marathi manse 
(people)'. Queues in front of the advance booking counters of cinema 
houses screening Marathi films are a rarity as middle-class audiences 
switch from 'amchi' [our] Marathi' to Hindi films. The industry has 
reached an all-time low with only 22 films produced in recent times.


Source:
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jun/09songs.htm