Sandip Ssingh, producer of the upcoming film 'PM Narendra Modi', which is embroiled in a controversy after Javed Akhtar expressed shock over the inclusion of his name on the poster of the film, clarified on Sunday that he was given the approval from T-series Bhushan Kumar.
Ssingh in an interview with ANI spoke at length about the recent controversy, saying that the name of the veteran lyricist features in the poster of the film as the makers used one of his old songs and was given the approval by Kumar.
"Javed Sahab is a very senior and legendary writer in our country. I have grown up listening to his songs. I wanted to keep one of his songs titled 'Ishwar Allah' from 194: Earth' in the film. I spoke to T-series' Bhushan Kumar ji and he agreed to it. I feel very lucky that I could use this song for my film. I hope everyone likes the song in the film," Ssingh said.
He also added that it's not his work to inform anyone about using the song rather it's the music company's job to do so.
"I don't know if he was informed about it, it's the music company's job to inform. Our work is to make a film. We have made the film," Ssingh added.
Upon asking if the makers have used Akhtar's name for promoting the film, he said, "I don't think Javed's name is being used for promotions. Everyone knows that Narendra Modi is such a big personality that the film needs no promotions.
"Whatever Javed Sahab had to say, he has already said that on Twitter. Whatever is being said now is being made up by other people. I don't think Javed Sahab will say such a small and shallow thing that we are using his name to promote the film."
Talking about rescheduling release date of the film, he said, "We had decided to release the film on April 12 and we had announced it as well. But Kalank is releasing on April 17 and we would have only gotten three to four days on the box office. So that is why we decided to release the film on April 5."
"Whatever the people and media are saying are their own opinions that we shifted the release date because of the Election Commission or we shifted the film's release date due to elections. All this is not true, they are all made up stories. We will be very happy if people and the media ask us questions related to the making and the efforts we have put into the film rather than all these controversies," he added.
Speaking about the political parties demanding to ban the film, he said, "These political parties have worked really hard in their own respective states and for their nation. If they still focus on their work, voters will vote for them. Targeting a film or a person on whom the biopic is made cannot alter your votes. How can people forget the work you have done for them and get inspired by a film and change their votes? They need to rethink because a film cannot change their work or their party. It's a small biopic on PM Narendra Modi, they should not feel scared because of it."
Ssingh had earlier taken to his Twitter handle and written, "We have taken the songs 'Ishwar Allah' from the film '1947: Earth' and the song 'Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon' from the film 'Dus' in our film, thus we have given the due credits to respective lyricists Javed Sahab and Sameer Ji. @TSeries is our Music partner. @ModiTheFilm2019."
Recently, Akhtar and Sameer Anjaan expressed their shock on finding their names under 'lyrics' on the poster. Akhtar was the first one to point out. Soon after Akhtar's tweet created a buzz, Anjaan also took to the micro-blogging site to voice his surprise.
Apart from them, the poster also features the names of Prasoon Joshi, Sameer, Abhendra Kumar Upadhyay, Sardaraa, Parry G and Lavraj, among many others.
Vivek Oberoi-starrer 'PM Narendra Modi' is based on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Omung Kumar directorial was previously scheduled to release on April 12, a day after the completion of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, but has now been rescheduled to hit screens April 5.
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