I have not written lyrics for this film: Javed Akhtar is puzzled by his name in PM Narendra Modi credits

Omung Kumar's PM Narendra Modi seems to be running into hurdles one after the other. A day after the Election Commission received complaints from two political parties against the film's release in the run-up to the general elections, lyricist Javed Akhtar questioned the use of his name in the film's promotional material.

The veteran lyricist tweeted a poster of the film and said, 'Am shocked to find my name on the poster of this film. Have not written any songs for it!'

The mention of Javed Akhtar's name in the trailer had evoked some surprise initially, and several people online had questioned his participation in a film on Narendra Modi after having vehemently opposed the prime minister's decisions on several occasions.

The trailer features his name alongside Prasoon Joshi, Sameer, and several others. However, the veteran writer, poet and lyricist has himself stated clearly now that he has not written any songs for the biopic.

The revelation came just a day before the film's first song, 'Saugandh Mujhe Iss Mitti Ki', is set to be released. Sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Shashi, the song has been written by well-known lyricist Joshi, who is also currently the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

PM Narendra Modi is a biopic by Omung Kumar B with Vivek Anand Oberoi in the lead and is set for release on 5 April, assuming it is cleared by the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, an electoral officer from the East Delhi parliamentary constituency has sent the makers of the film, Legend Global Studio, and Anand Pandey of the leading Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar show-cause notices for violating the model code of conduct in place before the general elections.

In the notice, the officer observed that the full-page advertisement for the film in Dainik Bhaskar "appears to be a surrogate advertisement" with "political overtures".