Narendra Modi biopic will release on THIS date, confirm filmmakers of Vivek-Oberoi starrer

After month of squabbling and petitioning, the makers of Vivek Oberoi-starrer biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced that the film will be released countrywide on May 24, a day after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are declared. The film, titled 'PM Narendra Modi', was earlier set to release on April 11 but was banned by the Election Commission. In its order last month, the EC had banned the screening of film during the poll period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media. The Election Commission order had come a day before the movie was to be released.

Producer Sandip Singh said he hopes the film will have a smooth run in the theatres. "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," Singh said in a statement.

"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," he added. Directed by Omung Kumar, the film also features Boman Irani, Manoj Joshi, Prashant Narayanan, Zarina Wahab, Barkha Sengupta and Darshan Kumaar, among others.

Suresh Oberoi and Anand Pandit are co-producers of the film.  

Meanwhile, lead actor of the film Vivek Oberoi had slammed those raising issue against the political drama. I don't understand why some people are overreacting like this. “Why are such senior and famous lawyers like Abhishek Singhvi ji and Kapil Sibal ji wasting time on filing a PIL on such a modest film? Don't know if they are scared of the film or of Chowkidar's 'danda',” Oberoi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

On the portrayal of the Prime Minister on the silver screen, Oberoi said that, “We are not projecting Modi ji as larger than life, he already is larger than life. We are not projecting him as a hero, he already is a hero ,not only for me but for crores of people in India and abroad. Its an inspirational story which we brought to the screen.”

Last month, the Bombay High Court had refused to interfere with the release of the biopic. "The Election Commission has already taken note of the issue and shall deal with it," the court had said. The bench disposed of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Satish Gaikwad, national president of the Republican Party of India (I), who said the film, if permitted to be released for public viewing, would violate the model code of conduct imposed by the EC.

The plea had questioned the timing of the film's release and said if released, it was likely to earn the prime minister electoral mileage.