In a letter to him on Wednesday, Soni, who had made the film based on the reservation stir in Gujarat, sought Modi’s help in getting a censor board clearance.
Almost a year after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused permission to release Gujarati movie ‘Power of Patidar’, its producer Deepak Soni has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention.
In a letter to him on Wednesday, Soni, who had made the film based on the reservation stir in Gujarat, sought Modi’s help in getting a censor board clearance.
“I had not made the movie with an intention to gain profit but its non-release has rather led to losses. I am not writing to you for a loan-waiver or any other profit but to help me in avoiding unnecessary losses in my business,” the letter stated.
Soni, a resident of Surat, stated that under the banner of Kesar Bhawani Film Productions, they made ‘Power of Patidar’ with an aim to entertain the audience keeping the reservation stir in Gujarat in mind. It was finished in 2016 but its release stopped due to unknown reasons.
“None of the castes has been insulted nor favoured in this film. Neither the objective of the movie was to harm or favour any political party. It has probably been stopped from release as the name of the main protagonist is Hardik,” the letter read.
Soni said his lifelong savings and the money he had borrowed from his friends are on the line. If the film is not released, he said, it would be difficult for him to bear the expanses of his family and the debt burden.
The producer also stated that if the board is worried that the movie could flare up public sentiments, several such films based on sensitive issued and incidents have been released in the past.
“I have asked the home minister and the chief minister of Gujarat to watch Power of Patidar several times. I also invite you to watch the film and if you feel that it is apt that the movie should not release, I will burn its reel,” Soni concluded in the letter.
Timeline:
July 16, 2016: The production house receives refusal letter from Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Soni appeals to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.
December 13, 2016: Tribunal upholds the Censor Board’s order.
Soni approached the Gujarat High Court four months back. Though the CBFC officials had appeared before the court, those from the tribunal are yet to do so.
The letter
“You are the PM of the country and also a Gujarati, thus I expect help from you. Through you, I want to ask the Censor Board whether it would have curtailed the release if well-known actors like Shahrukh or Salman Khan had acted in it. Similarly, if the movie was based on the life of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray or any other person of a strong repute and caliber had the Censor Board’s response been the same,” the letter remarked.
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