Election Commission stops the release of PM Narendra Modi biopic

The Election Commission of India, on Wednesday, has stopped the release of the biopic of PM Narendra Modi until the Lok Sabha elections are completed. The EC announced the decision while stating that any biopic material which has the potential to “disturb” level playing field during the election, should not be displayed.

“Any Biopic material in nature of biography subserving the purpose of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it, which has potential to disturb level playing field during the election, should not be displayed in Electronic media including cinematograph during the operation of Model Code of Conduct,” the order from the Election Commission reads.

The ban on the film by EC comes on the same day that the CBFC gave a U-certificate and cleared its release on Thursday.

It may be noted that the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition by a Congress activist seeking a stay on the release of the biopic on PM Modi. The apex court said that “too much time is wasted on such non-issues” and would be ideal for the Election Commission to take a call on the issue. Arguing that the film might influence the voters this poll season, several Congress leaders have been demanding the authorities to ban the release of the biopic on Narendra Modi.

In addition to ‘PM Narendra Modi’, the Election Commission also stated that it received complaints on films ‘Lakshmi’s NTR’ and ‘Udyama Simham’.

The first phase of Lok Sabha elections starts on Thursday, 11 April.