<p>MNS welcomed a recent announcement by Bachchan to support and promote Marathi movie 'Harishchandrachi Factory' by Paresh Mokashi.<br /><br />The film, about how Dadasaheb Phalke made the nation's first motion picture 'Raja Harishchandra', has been selected as India's entry for Oscars.<br />"It is a good thing that Bachchan is supporting the film for Oscar awards. We welcome his move," MNS general secretary Shirish Parkar said.<br /><br />Raj Thackeray had launched a tirade against the actor last year.<br />"Though he has become a star in Mumbai, his interest is in Uttar Pradesh. That is why he was trying to be an ambassador of UP rather than Maharashtra," Raj had said.<br />MNS called off its campaign against Bachchan in September last year, after the actor apologised at a press conference and on his blog to pacify MNS activists who ripped posters of his movie 'The Last Lear'.<br /><br />Raj had also been miffed over Jaya Bachchan's remarks at a film's music launch last year that she would speak in Hindi as she was from Uttar Pradesh. <br /><br />This is not the first time that the Big B has offered help to a Marathi movie.<br />In November 2004, the Bollywood actor donated Rs one lakh to producers of 'Shwaas', a Marathi film that was selected as India's entry at the Oscars.<br /><br />The money donated was towards the fund-raising drive organised by the team to ensure widescale publicity and promotion for the film competing in the best foreign language category at the Oscars.<br /><br />The actor had described the donation as a "small" and "insignificant" contribution.<br />Bachchan's AB Corporation has produced a Marathi film, 'Vihir' (Well) which is all set for release.</p>
<p>MNS welcomed a recent announcement by Bachchan to support and promote Marathi movie 'Harishchandrachi Factory' by Paresh Mokashi.<br /><br />The film, about how Dadasaheb Phalke made the nation's first motion picture 'Raja Harishchandra', has been selected as India's entry for Oscars.<br />"It is a good thing that Bachchan is supporting the film for Oscar awards. We welcome his move," MNS general secretary Shirish Parkar said.<br /><br />Raj Thackeray had launched a tirade against the actor last year.<br />"Though he has become a star in Mumbai, his interest is in Uttar Pradesh. That is why he was trying to be an ambassador of UP rather than Maharashtra," Raj had said.<br />MNS called off its campaign against Bachchan in September last year, after the actor apologised at a press conference and on his blog to pacify MNS activists who ripped posters of his movie 'The Last Lear'.<br /><br />Raj had also been miffed over Jaya Bachchan's remarks at a film's music launch last year that she would speak in Hindi as she was from Uttar Pradesh. <br /><br />This is not the first time that the Big B has offered help to a Marathi movie.<br />In November 2004, the Bollywood actor donated Rs one lakh to producers of 'Shwaas', a Marathi film that was selected as India's entry at the Oscars.<br /><br />The money donated was towards the fund-raising drive organised by the team to ensure widescale publicity and promotion for the film competing in the best foreign language category at the Oscars.<br /><br />The actor had described the donation as a "small" and "insignificant" contribution.<br />Bachchan's AB Corporation has produced a Marathi film, 'Vihir' (Well) which is all set for release.</p>