Back in Jan 2019, The Supreme Court amended its decision of 30 November 2017 on January 2018 and stated that it is not compulsory to play the national anthem i.e. 'Jana Gana Mana' in theaters.
The Central Government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that, 'The Central Government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee which will give its suggestions in six months. After the committee's suggestions, the government will decide what to decide on playing the national anthem in theaters. The central government said that till then the situation will remain before the order to make the national anthem mandatory.
Significantly, on November 30, 2016, the Supreme Court had said in an interim order that it is mandatory to play the national anthem before the film starts in all theaters across the country. The Supreme Court also said that it would also be mandatory to show the national flag on the screen of theaters while playing the national anthem and all those present in the cinema hall would have to stand in honor of the national anthem.
