The Film Censor Board has refused to allow release of the Gujarati film ‘Power of Patidar’ based on the current reservation agitation by Patels in Gujarat.The producer of the film Dipak Soni here said the board had orally communicated to him that the film could not be released.
He has not yet received a written order though.
He said the film was screened specially for the board members on July 22 after which the board communicated its decision that it could not allow the release of the film.He said the board had raised objections against his showing real depictions of some of the leaders and other characters of the current reservation agitation in the film.
Among the other reasons given by the censor board for not giving permission for its release were that the film had given the real names, addresses and other details of the Patidar AnamatAndolan Samiti convenor Hardik Patel and some other leaders of the PAAS, a child once taking the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a look-alike of chief minister Anandiben Patel.
“Such real time characters cannot be allowed in a film based on an agitation by the people,” the board reportedly told the producer.Commenting on the development from his Udaipur home where currently he is in exile, Hardik Patel blamed the BJP government in the state for the censor board taking a negative stand on the film.
“The Anandiben Patel government was so far scared of the real quota agitation.
Now it is unnerved even by the reel quota agitation,” He said.The fate of the ‘Power of Patidar’ has raised question marks about the prospects of five other Gujarati movies currently being filmed on the same subject.The makers of the film, however, decided to fight to the last to get the film released.