The Election Commission of India has taken steps to bring down the biopic depicting the life of the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that was to be released on the 3rd of May. The EC took the initiative to bring down the release of the film after the BJP party sought a ban on the film till the national elections are over. “Baghini- Bengal Tigress”, the movie directed by Nehal Datta is to be halted till election process is over.
The trailer of the movie is to be removed from three websites. The Chief electoral officer of West Bengal submitted the report on the film. The movie which was slated to be released on May 3 will not be released on the decided date as it is just three days before the 5th phase of elections is about to end. Bengal will also be voting in the 5th phase. The elections are to end on 19th May and 23rd May is the counting day.
The EC has taken steps to stop the release of films, biopics and series on political leaders, the same orders were also issued to stop the biopic on Mamata Banerjee. When the matter was already in the news that the releasing of movies that portray the lives of political leaders was violating the Model Code of Conduct, the attempt to release a movie on Mamata Banerjee is highly disrespectful to the orders of the EC.
This news also comes amid the controversies surrounding the biopic on Narendra Modi which was also suppose to release on 12th April. On April 10th the Election Commission issued an order saying “any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub serving the purposes of any political party or any individual entity connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed in electronic media including cinematograph during the operation of MCC”. This order was applicable to all the film industries and broadcasting units across the country.
Based on the similar order the Pinky Paul production “Baghini” will be banned from being screened in film theatres. The removal of trailers from websites has also been ordered by the Election Commission.
The Election Commission of India is taking strict steps against the violations of the Model Code of Conduct. It is preventing any action by political parties that might hurt the integrity of the MCC and also the spirit of free and fair elections. While TMC is already charged with major violations, the trailer should not have made its way to the websites.