A petition has been moved in Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging release date of Bollywood movie PM Narendra Modi, which is a biopic of the Prime Minister. Hearing on the petition would be held on April 3, two days before the movie’s releases. The movie is releasing on April 5 whereas the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is also due in April.
Citing the polls, Congress Sevadal state president Yogesh Yadav lodged the petition through his lawyer Mansih Yadav alleging that the movie would influence the voters. He alleged that the movie is financed by BJP to influence voters. Yadav informed the court that he had previously lodged a complaint with elections commission which served notices on persons concerned but not deferred release of the movie.
Yogesh Yadav sought directions from the court to defer release of the movie till elections are not over. He also stated that if the release is not postponed then the expenses on the movie should be calculated in the expenses made by Modi in elections. Yogesh Yadav stated that in the promo of the movie, the lead actor who is doing the role of PM Modi has been shown directing army which is also violation of Article 142 of Constitution.
Film fracas
Upping the ante against the biopic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, titled PM Narendra Modi, the DMK has written to the Election Commission and asked for a stay on the movie, set to be released on April 5. In their petition to the Election Commission, the DMK sought a ban on the movie PM Narendra Modi till the Lok Sabha elections conclude.
The film has been embroiled in controversies ever since its first announcement. While the opposition deems the film to be a work of propaganda, the film also grabbed attention when veteran lyricists Javed Akhtar and Sameer Anjaan expressed shock over their credits in the poster. Producer Ssandip Singh, in an official statement, later clarified the poster mentioned their names because they had taken two of their old songs – Ishwar Allah from the film 1947: Earth and the song Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon from the film Dus.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (NMS) had also threatened to stall the film’s release in Maharashtra on Sunday and a Congress delegation met Election Commission of India protesting against the release of the movie on Monday. They contended that the film violated the code of conduct and demanded that the film’s release should be deferred till the last phase of voting.
