Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; October 17, 2015)
A day after the Supreme Court struck down a Maharashtra government law on Thursday that bans dance bars, the news has spread cheer among Mumbai bar girls and owners. Director Madhur Bhandarkar, who made Chandni Bar (2001), which was based on dance bars and won the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues, welcomes the ruling. He says, “While I haven't seen the detailed judgement, I think it's the right decision because the livelihood of a lot of people is dependent on these bars, especially the dancers. While researching for Chandni Bar, I've seen their plight and trauma. Most of them come from small towns in North India. I know of girls whose husbands had abandoned them, leaving them to fend for themselves and their children. When the bars were banned, many of the girls had shifted base to Dubai and Malaysia. Their children were forced to take a break from education due to monetary issues. Some women even started doing odd jobs to earn a living.“
The filmmaker adds that bar owners should follow rules and regulations, like ensuring the safety and security of the dancers and adhering to the timings etc. He says, “Though I'm in favour of the dance bars opening again, the rules of the law should be followed. They should not be a nuisance to the public.“