The DMK has asked Election Commission (EC) to block the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during election time saying it is in contravention of the Election Code of Conduct. The movie, which is titled PM Narendra Modi and stars Vivek Oberoi in the lead role, is scheduled to hit the screens on April 5, a week before the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. The party functionary Arasu Bhupathy has written to the EC saying the biopic, that is scheduled to be released next month, seeks to influence voters during the Lok Sabha General Elections. The movie’s trailer was released on Thursday and featured Vivek Oberoi playing Narendra Modi through various stages of his life. The film has been produced by Sandip Singh, Anand Pandit and Suresh Oberoi and will be released in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.
Earlier this week, the Congress in Goa had written to the EC seeking a ban on the release of the movie. The Congress’ student wing, National Student’s Union in India, had claimed that the movie was a ‘propaganda by the BJP to influence voters’ during the Lok Sabha elections and was thus in violation of the model code of conduct. The letter demands a ban on the movie 48 hours prior to voting which is known as election silence where a party is not allowed to promote or campaign.