Salman Khan's much-delayed war drama ‘Maatrubhumi’ could finally be heading towards a theatrical release. The film, earlier announced as ‘Battle Of Galwan’, has reportedly received clearance from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, according to a Bollywood Hungama report.
The film, which is based on the 2020 India-China clash, has been awaiting government clearance for some time. The reported development could now pave the way for the makers to approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Why was Maatrubhumi delayed?
The film had earlier faced reservations from the Ministry of Defence over its content and references to China, the report said. The concerns reportedly came amid improving ties between India and China.
According to the report, the makers subsequently submitted a revised version of the film to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
“The officials of the I&B Ministry are now satisfied with the new version of Maatrubhumi submitted by the makers. Hence, they gave an NOC to the war saga last week. This means that the film can now be made available for public consumption,” a source told the outlet.
The revised version reportedly presents India-China relations in a “positive light”.
Is Salman Khan eyeing a November release?
With the reported government clearance in place, the next step for the film would be certification from the CBFC. If that process is completed this month, Salman Khan is reportedly considering a release date in November.
“Salman Khan is now eyeing November 13. He believes that the post-Diwali period, when people would still be in a celebratory mood, would be apt for the film's release,” the source said.
However, the final release date has not been confirmed. According to the report, more clarity could emerge over the next 10 days.
More about the film
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, ‘Maatrubhumi’ also stars Chitrangada Singh. The project was initially titled ‘Battle Of Galwan’ before being renamed earlier this year.
The film is based on the Galwan Valley clash of 2020 and has been in development amid multiple delays.
Salman Khan also has Vamshi Paidipally's tentatively titled ‘SVC63’ in the pipeline. The film features Nayanthara alongside the actor.