Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil has a reason to rejoice. A Marathi film, 'Saade, Maade, Teen', has created a record by running to packed houses in theatres for the past five weeks.

Patil had previously threatened to scrap licences of multiplexes and single-screen theatres in the state if they did not screen Marathi films for at least four weeks a year.

'Saade, Maade, Teen' is on its way to creating a record in the Marathi film industry. Till date, it has raked in more than Rs.20 million (Rs.2 crore) through box-office sales. In Mumbai, the film is showing at Imax and the Inox chain of multiplexes, besides the Plaza and Bharatmata cinemas, the two halls that traditionally screen Marathi movies.

According to a spokesman for Zee Talkies, which bought the film and released it in 45 screens across Maharashtra, box-office collections are expected to cross Rs.30 million by Thursday.

Incidentally, the movie was made on a budget of Rs.10 million, considered a big investment by Marathi film industry standards.

The last Marathi film to create a record at the box office was 'Maherchi Sadi', produced and directed by Vijay Kondke (nephew of the late Marathi film legend, Dada Kondke) in 1991. It had earned Rs.60 million in around three months.

Going by the current box-office performance of 'Saade, Maade Teen', it will not only overtake the record of 'Maherchi Sadi', but end up earning a lot more.

Incidentally, 'Saade, Madde, Teen' is the first directorial venture of Marathi actor Sachit Patil and the maiden foray of Zee Talkies into Marathi film production.

It was originally produced by Anubhuti Arts but Zee Talkies later bought the movie's negatives. It started with 27 prints (in itself a record for a Marathi movie) for simultaneous release across the state.

For the first time, top Marathi actors Ashok Saraf, Bharat Jadhav and Makrand Anajpure have worked together in this film. Sujata Joshi, a new find, played the female lead.

'Saade, Maade, Teen' is based on the 1958 Bollywood musical hit, 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi', produced by Kishore Kumar and directed by Satyen Bose.

'I am a die-hard fan of Kishore Kumar. His 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' is a rip-roaring comedy. I must have seen the movie a hundred times. So, when I thought of directing a movie, I wanted it to be on the lines of 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'. My attempt has been appreciated because I have made a pure family entertainer,' director Sachit Patil told IANS.