Actor Manoj Bajpayee has emphasised the need for a ‘level playing field’ for films of all sizes and scales in India. He has said that the dominance and monopoly of big-budget films make it very difficult for small, independent films to find screens across the country. Manoj Bajpayee opens up about the cinema exhibition system in India. Manoj Bajpayee on government intervention in cinema exhibition In a recent conversation with HT, filmmaker Reema Kagti insisted that small films needed patronage, not ‘support’ from the audience. When we bring the same up with Manoj, the veteran actor responds, “With small films, patronage shuruaat hoti hai exhibition se. (patronage starts with exhibition). The day the government makes this policy that each and every film will get enough showcasing, then they will have some kind of a fair platform, a level playing field. Until we get that, it’s tough.” Manoj says he agrees with Reema’s assertion that independent cinema in India needs patronage, but wants that patronage to come from the administration, and for it to be infrastructural, …