THE national anthem has been part and parcel of our movie-going experience for years. Decades ago, the tricolour fluttered and notes of Jana Gana Mana rent the air at the end of the film with several members of the audience making a hasty exit. Taking it as a sign of disrespect, theatre owners stopped playing the anthem.

However, in 2002, certain sections prevailed upon the Maharashtra government to issue directives to revive the practice. The state then made it mandatory to play it before the start of the film to promote patriotism as people from diverse backgrounds come together to enjoy a film.