Film inspired by Modi to be released this Friday

MUMBAI, DHNS: A film inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was caught up with the censors, is slated for release on this Friday.

The film, originally called 'Modi ka gaon', has now been renamed 'Modi kaka ka gaon'.

Mumbai-based businessman Vikas Mahante, a Modi lookalike, essays the lead role in the film.

The film is produced by Suresh Kumar Jha, who has been working on the project from last year.

Around January, the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) - then headed by Pahlaj Nihalani - had rejected the film and asked the producer to seek no-objection certificates from the Prime Minister's Office and the Election Commission of India.

However, Jha challenged the rejection in the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which in October had cleared the film.

"We had submitted the order to the board, which has now cleared it (the film) for release," Jha said.

"The statutory responsibility for certification of films is cast upon the CBFC Board under the Cinematograph Act (It) cannot be delegated to different statutory authorities, departments or individuals," Justice (Retd) Manmohan Sarin, the FCAT Chairman, had said in his order.

The film is presented by Swarnim Global, produced by Suresh Jha and directed by Tushar Amrish Goel.

Mahante's resemblance to Modi has made him a crowd-puller.

Called the "Modi from Mumbai", he is often surrounded by people on the road who want to take selfies with him, a request obliges to.

He has been asked to address several functions and business events, where he speaks the way the prime minister does and highlights his policies.

"I am a big fan of Modiji, I am a big fan of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan," he said.

The 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections were hectic times for him as many candidates wanted him to speak at their constituencies.