Indians are increasingly moving towards a culture of movies depicting the lives of inspiring personalities in the country. Whether it is the story of leaders such as Dr. Manmohan Singh or sportsperson such as the Phogat sisters, Mary Kom and MS Dhoni, or historical figures such as the queen of Jhansi; people love watching their idols on the big screen. Amidst this culture, comes the latest movie, that based on the current prime minister of India, PM Narendra Modi.
Vivek Oberoi will soon be seen on the big screen with the release of his new movie, PM Narendra Modi. The movie depicts the life of Prime Minister Modi and his struggle in life, politics and ideologies adopted, all set to be released on 12th April. However, Congress party and other major oppositions to the NDA government are fiercely protesting against the release of the film, demanding that it should be released after the Lok Sabha Election is conducted. In a latest India Today interview with Rahul Kanwal, Vivek Oberoi and Nagma Morarji, a Congress leader, talk about the upcoming film.
#LokSabhaElections2019#PMNarendraModi biopic row: Watch the Bollywood faceoff between actor Vivek Oberoi and Congress leader @nagma_morarji with @RahulKanwal.
Full video – https://t.co/b4sCGc5RVn pic.twitter.com/uNx1Bo87zr— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 3, 2019
In the interview, as seen clearly, Nagma Moranji is all over the place, not knowing where to start and what to say, she is a mass jumble of rhetoric thoughts. Amongst her unnecessary and unrelated opinions on intolerance and Kashmir issue, while accusing BJP of spread propaganda through the film, she asks Vivek Oberoi, “How can you release the movie just before elections?”
Vivek Oberoi, maintaining easy going and yet assertive attitude, answers with charming smile, “Anybody who does anything professionally, are they ever asked by people, ‘Why now?’ So how can you? It is my sovereign right to make a film the way I want to, release it the way I want to, when I want to and it is the sovereign right of the viewers to watch it when they want to. How can you intervene? It is absolute rubbish. How can you even ask me that question?”
Answering to Nagma Moranji’s claims that the government has destroyed the democracy in the past five years, Vivek Oberoi said, “You asking me this question on how I can release the movie before election is against the fundamental principles of democracy.”
Nagma Moranji, clearly flustered after Vivek Oberoi’s response frayed completely away from the topic at hand and started talking about Modi government’s policies and made tall claims on how it had done nothing against terrorism and black money. A 3rd grader of this country has the awareness and information to retort to her remarks.
Moreover, this is not the sole case. Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, supposing to be ‘unbiased’ was persistent in proving the release of the movie being a new gimmick of the current government. The actor with all ease and charm shut Rajdeep on this comment of his by saying, “It is the story of a ‘chaiwala’ who became the Prime Minister of India. It is an inspiring story that needs to be told. I did the film because PM Narendra Modi inspires me.”
When asked if it is a propaganda film, Vivek Oberoi said, “It is just a coincidence that the film is releasing ahead of the election. It is not a propaganda film. I am an individual who has a credible body of work over the last 18 years, more than 45 films and more than 26-27 awards. So I stand my ground there. I don’t need to make him appear as a hero. He is a hero to billions of people across the world.”
Vivek Oberoi eloquently brought out the fact that if the movie is in line to influence the election, so is Rajdeep Sardesai and his views. The actor opinioned that a journalist like Sardesai, being such an influence, has quite a strong hold on people. He said that in such a case Rajdeep Sardesai should not be seen anywhere around social and media platforms before elections. The opinions that are formulated and spoken by a journalist like Rajdeep Sardesai can also mould the minds of general viewers and affect the election as well. He back fired Sardesai, asking him, if like the movie even Rajdeep Sardesai should also be banned until the election.
Even with Vivek Oberoi giving strong answers to each of the query, the opposition stand remains the same.
The Congress party had approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) taking issue with the release of the film on March 25. The ECI had issued notice to the producers of the film. However, on April 3, during the hearing of a similar petition filed in the Bombay High Court, the ECI had stated that it had no objection to the release of the film. Still the grand old party isn’t satisfied with the judiciary proceedings. Aman Panwar, a Congress spokesperson and lawyer, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court today.
BJP has categorically stated that the party has nothing to do with the film or its makers. Therefore, imposing a ban or delaying the release of the movie will only violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the constitution to the makers or the film. Moreover, as stated by Vivek Oberoi, the film is a plain movie and if all it was aiming to spread propaganda for the current government, the release would have been scheduled at least a week before, not on 12th of April, which was the original release date. The movie is scheduled to be released after the polling 91 constituencies, spread across 20 states after the first phase on 11th April. The whole stance of Vivek Oberoi attempting to “influence the elections” is falsified due to this.