The DMK has requested the Election Commission to defer the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the upcoming biopic on the current Prime Minister on India. The movie, originally slated for release a week before the start of the general elections on April 5, will impact election promotions, claims DMK.
According to a report in DC, P Arasu Bupathi, the district deputy secretary of the DMK’s Engineer’s Wing in Pollachi, Coimbatore had brought the issue to the EC’s attention through a letter to the district collector who serves as the district election officer.
“We wish to draw your kind attention towards the bad condition of election rules in India. Cinema is a major source of advertisement,” the letter to the Election Commission states. The letter that also stated that the movie depicted the PM’s current political lifestyle which could impact the outcome of the elections.
Bupathi sought a ban on the movie till May 19, the last date of the general elections.
Earlier the Congress Party’s student wing, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) requested the Election Commission to ban the movie. The Goan unit of the NSUI wrote a letter demanding a ban 48 hours prior to the beginning of voting,
Directed by Omung Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi features Vivek Oberoi in the titular role. The movie will trace Modi’s life till the 2014 general elections. The movie stars also Zarina Wahab, Prashant Narayanan, Boman Irani, Barkha Bisht and Manoj Joshi.
The movie became the subject of controversy when lyricist Javed Akhtar and Sameer expressed shock when they were credited as lyricists in the trailer of the movie. Both lyricists clarified that they were not associated with the movie in any way.
Am shocked to find my name on the poster of this film. Have not written any songs for it ! pic.twitter.com/tIeg2vMpVG
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 22, 2019
Producer Ssandip Singh, in his clarification, said that the film had used two poems by the yesteryear writers. Thus they were given their due credit.
We have taken the songs 'Ishwar Allah' from the film '1947:Earth' and the song 'Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon' from the film 'Dus' in our film, thus we have given the due credits to respective lyricists Javed Sahab and Sameer Ji. @TSeries is our Music partner. @ModiTheFilm2019
— Sandip Ssingh (@sandip_Ssingh) March 23, 2019
Feature image courtesy Indian Express