It was just a day before the release of Vivek Oberoi’s PM Narendra Modi that the Election Commission of India stayed its release till further orders. The Modi biopic was slated for release on 11th April but the ECI’s order on 10th paid put to the film’s release plans. The ECI said, the film cannot be released till elections all over India are over.
The decision to block the film’s release goes with the ECI’s blanket ban on screening of biopics which help to promote a political party or entity or any individual connected to it during the operation of the model code of conduct. The generic ban on screening of political biopics during the polls addressed the need for the ECI to intervene in the matter of political content intended to benefit or discredit the electoral prospects of any candidate and/or political party, for ensuring a level playing field.
Besides stalling the release of PM Narendra Modi, the Election Commission also announced that a committee would be constituted to examine if any cinematograph material violated the ban and also to examine complaints in this regard. The committee will be headed by a retired SC judge or retired HC chief justice. It will suggest appropriate action to be taken in such matters.
The Modi biopic was originally slated to hit the screens on April 5 but it could not meet that release date because it was not certified in time. The release was then postponed to April 11 (Thursday) because Kalank was slated only six days later – on April 17. PM Narendra Modi was cleared by the CBFC on April 9.
On April 9, the Supreme Court had refused to pass any interim order against the film’s release despite a Congress leader’s plea that it would alter the level playing field in the elections. The apex court bench asked the petitioner to specify the objectionable contents of the film for the court to take a considered view before passing any interim order. It also said, it was for the Election Commission to decide whether the film’s release would alter the level playing field in campaigning for the general elections.