The makers of PM Narendra Modi, a biopic on India’s incumbent prime minister, have released a new poster for the the film. This comes a day after the exit polls, which were revealed on 19 May and point towards a second term for Modi.
The text on the poster reads: “Aa rahe hai dobara. Ab koi rok nahi sakta. (He will return. No one can stop him now.)”
Starring Vivek Oberoi and directed by Omung Kumar, PM Narendra Modi was originally slated to release on 11 April, a day after the first phase of India’s 2019 Lok Sabha elections were to commence. The Election Commission of India (EC) put a ban on the release of the biopic during poll season on 10 April saying in its order that “any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.”
In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, the EC observed that the biopic on Narendra Modi is a “hagiography”, which treats the subject with undue reverence, and its public screening during poll campaign will “tilt the electoral balance.” On 26 April, the Supreme Court upheld the EC’s decision to ban the film till 19 May.
The makers of PM Narendra Modi subsequently decided to push the release date of the biopic to 24 May. “As a responsible citizen we respect the law of the country. After a lot of discussions and keeping the curiosity and excitement about the film in mind we have decided to release the film immediately after the Lok Sabha Election results. We are now releasing our film on 24th May 2019. This is the first time a film will be promoted for only four days. I hope now nobody has any problem with the film and we are hoping for the smooth release this time,” said producer Sandip Singh in a statement.
PM Narendra Modi has been directed by Omung Kumar and produced by Sandip Ssingh and Suresh Oberoi. The film stars Vivek Oberoi, Boman Irani, Darshan Kumaar, Barkha Sengupta and Zarina Wahab.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)