The Election Commission of India has stopped release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi till the end of the Lok Sabha polls. The film PM Narendra Modi, the title role played by Vivek Oberoi, traces the life of the country’s Prime Minister, and was scheduled for release on April 11, the first phase of the seven-phase elections in the country, that concludes on May 19.
The EC today said that the film “disturbs the level-playing field”. The EC said that any such “biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or individual connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed in the electronic media including cinematograph during the operation of MCC”.
Any complaint on the matter is to be examined by a panel headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
The apex court had dismissed a petition yesterday — by a Congress leader that pleaded a hold on the film’s release — saying “too much court time is wasted on these non-issues” and added that it was for the EC to decide if the film was to be released. Hours after the order, the film was certified by the Censor Board with a “U” certificate.
The Opposition has alleged that the film’s release coinciding with the Lok Sabha polls would violate the model code of conduct.
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