Lyricist and Bollywood veteran Javed Akhtar has called out the biopic titled PM Narendra Modi objecting to his name being mentioned in the film’s trailer, despite not working on it.
He took to Twitter to express his shock at seeing his name appear in the title card for the film’s trailer — displayed first and prominently under the credits for lyrics or song-writing, in the company of Prasson Joshi, Sameer and others.
Akhtar wrote:
Am shocked to find my name on the poster of this film. Have not written any songs for it ! pic.twitter.com/tIeg2vMpVG
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 22, 2019
Twitter users registered their mirth at this gaffe, taking digs at the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government.
How the unemployed become employed in Govt data. https://t.co/3t8B4QFgmJ
— Navratna Wayne (@psubatman) March 22, 2019
It is defamatory to claim that the lyrics of a C grade election propaganda film are written by an outstanding poet & lyricist like Javed Akhtar. Shows the desperation of Bhakts https://t.co/CZxfoYfauQ
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 22, 2019
So even the poster of this film is a lie. https://t.co/3aX5bSox7A
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) March 22, 2019
Counting down to @Javedakhtarjadu being pilloried as anti-national because he denies having played any part in this historic, path-breaking, instant-classic magnum opus. https://t.co/I8tmp9NexU
— Pablo Chaterji (@pablochaterji) March 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/sumit_roy_/status/1109078528954372097
The film seems to have taken its title too seriously and begun peddling lies. https://t.co/0NTTuFYsN2
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) March 22, 2019
The film PM Narendra Modi directed by Omung Kumar and starring Vivek Oberoi, from the looks of the trailer, appears loosely based on the life of the Indian Prime Minister and was announced in late January at an event attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
While the film is still being shot in Varanasi, the producers have already applied for a censor certificate. It usually takes a few weeks for the Central Board of Film Certification to issue the certificate, without which movies cannot be screened in cinemas.
The timing of the film has been called into question, with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections knocking at the door. The film which was slated to be released on April 12 is now going to hit the screens on April 5.
A former election commissioner told Mid-Day, “You can’t ban the film because it is not made by a political party. However, it is openly endorsed by the party members, including Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Amit Shah, who was scheduled to attend the film’s event yesterday. So they are associated with it indirectly.”
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