Producers Defend Modi Biopic Before EC, Say No Links to the BJP

The Election Commission had sought comments from the film’s producers after the opposition filed a complaint asking the poll panel to postpone the release of the film till the Lok Sabha elections were over. 

New Delhi: The producers of PM Narendra Modi on Thursday responded to the Election Commission’s notice on the film saying that the biopic has no links to the BJP. According to an Indian Express report, the producers claimed they had “put in their personal money for the making” of the film.

The EC had sought comments from the film’s producers after the opposition filed a complaint asking the poll panel to postpone the release of the film till the Lok Sabha elections were over.

While the movie was earlier scheduled to be released in theatres on April 12, it is now slated for release on April 5 – right before the first phase of the polls commences – due to “public demand”.

The film’s lead actor, Vivek Oberoi and producer Sandip Singh also met the EC officials on Thursday as the movie’s producers denied having any link with the BJP and said that they had “put in their personal money for the making” of the film.

Previously, Congress leader Kapil Sibal had called the film politically “motivated” and lacking in “artistic venture”. “The purpose of this film is only political – to get some extra mileage in the elections,” he said.

Calling the opposition Congress’s complaint, “baseless, frivolous and mala fide in nature”, Hitesh Jain, the lawyer for the producers, argued that the movie was “produced by our clients and not any political candidates”.

Also read | Does the Release of ‘PM Narendra Modi’ Violate Model Code of Conduct?

According to the Indian Express, Jain also said, “The said film has been made as a commercial venture by our clients and other producers who are from the film industry. If a producer who is producing a movie relating to a political figure and/ or political party is presumed (to be) having a political nexus, then every movie made in India involving political leaders (past and present) will be identified as a propaganda movie.”

Jain also claimed that the film was not violative of the Model Code of Conduct as a biopic is “a biography in a visual medium” and if biographies are allowed to be sold then biopics should also be allowed to release.

The producers have also claimed that the fact that the political views of Oberoi, who essays the lead role of PM Narendra Modi in the biopic, align with that of the BJP, is no reason “to jump to the conclusion” that it is political propaganda

“The allegations made linking our client’s movie with a political party merely on a few public events, Facebook posts and tweets are not only false but have no basis in either fact and/or law,” added Jain.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with actor Vivek Oberoi in front of a poster of ‘PM Narendra Modi’. Credit: Facebook/PM Narendra Modi

The producers have also claimed that they asked the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP president Amit Shah to promote the film as they wanted it to be a “resounding commercial success”.

Also read | Train Fire Recreated for Narendra Modi Biopic But Godhra Questions Remain

Regarding the opposition’s demand to delay the film’s release, the producers said that such a move would “adversely affect the democracy and rule of law” as freedom of expression “cannot be held to ransom by anyone, especially a rival political party”.

Jain also said that several movies based on political themes like Mere Pyare Prime Minister, Uri – The Surgical Strike and The Accidental Prime Minister, also dealt with “sensitive topics and issues”, but were allowed to be released and continue to run in several theatres.

Last week, the DMK had written to the EC asking for a stay on the movie.