New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation, Bollywood’s powerful Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has fired off a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, begging for his intervention.

The bone of contention? A sudden ban on the blockbuster film Dhurandhar by the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Certified clean by India’s CBFC, the movie’s massive Indian success now faces Gulf censorship. Will Modi’s diplomatic clout save the day for free speech and box office dreams? IMPPA folds its hands in desperation.

The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), the largest and oldest body representing film producers, has made a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the ban on the film Dhurandhar. The letter, addressed to “Shri Narendra Modi ji, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India” at South Block, New Delhi, highlights the “unilateral and uncalled for ban imposed” by the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

IMPPA President Abhay Sinha, in the letter, emphasised the film’s legitimacy and success. “Our member producer has made this film and has released the same after getting certification by the Central Board of Film Certification, and the ban imposed by the above countries is a suppression of the Freedom of Expression of our member as the film has emerged as one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema,” the association stated.

The plea underscores strong India-Gulf ties. “We as representatives of the largest and oldest Producers’ Association, IMPPA, request you earnestly with folded hands to kindly intervene as UAE Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are India friendly countries and we conduct regular business with them across multiple sectors,” the letter reads. IMPPA urged the Government of India to “take up this matter with the concerned authorities in these countries and make efforts to ensure that freedom of expression is respected and the ban is revoked at the earliest.”

The association signed off with urgency: “We shall be highly obliged to you if you could kindly do the needful at the earliest, as it is a matter of great importance to the country.” The letter, marked “Yours faithfully” by INDIAN MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION and President (Abhay Sinha), includes copies to key ministers.

Copies went to Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, Hon’ble Minister for Information and Broadcasting, India, and Shri S. Jaishankar ji, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, India. This move comes amid Dhurandhar’s roaring success in India, spotlighting tensions between creative freedom and international censorship. Industry watchers await whether diplomatic channels will unlock Gulf screens for the hit film.