National Anthem to be Played In Cinemas Before Film

NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court directed that the national anthem must be played in all theatres before movie screenings.
Everyone should stand when the anthem is played and the national flag should be on the screen, said the court.
“When the national anthem is played it is imperative for everyone to show honour and respect. It would instill a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism,” said the judges.
Acting on a petition on the alleged misuse of the anthem in TV shows or movies, the court also ruled that it should not be commercially exploited or dramatized or printed on objectionable material.
The petition was filed by Shyam Narayan Chouski, who runs an NGO in Bhopal. It was essential for cinema halls to play the national anthem after every movie in the 1960s. The practice faded away over the years, as multiplexes dramatically changed the movie-watching experience.
In 2003, Maharashtra ordered that the anthem has to be played before the screening of any film. Whether or not to stand when the anthem is played in the cinema has been confusing to many.