‘MSG’ Release Date January 23 | Leela Samson Censor Board Chief Resigned: Amid row over the controversial god man Gurmeet  Ram Rahim Singh’s movie Latest movie ‘MSG: The Messenger Of God’, had got the nod from an appellate tribunal and the film is reported to hit the screens on January 23rd, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Leela Samson said she had resigned, on Friday. she was aware of media reports that the nod had been given to the film, which was to be released earlier on 16th January 2015 (Friday), but it has been postponed.Samson said, “I hear so. Nothing is in writing yet. Yet, it is a mockery of the CBFC. My resignation is final; I have informed the (information and broadcasting) secretary.”

The censor board has given clearance to MSG: The Messenger of God featuring self-styled guru Ram Rahim Singh. Earlier, the censor board had objected to the film’s release fearing it would cause communal tension and had also raised objections on the content of the movie and the manner in which the Singh projected himself as a ‘Godman’.The movie, which stars Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the lead role, referred to the revising committee, was said to be “too controversial” and “may hurt sentiments”, hence failed to get clearance.

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The dera had openly supported the Centre’s ruling party and eventual winner BJP in the recent Haryana assembly polls. As such, the FCAT’s reported nod came even as sources familiar with the procedure had told HT earlier that the tribunal decision wasn’t likely soon. “It is a quasi-judicial process that takes at least two weeks,” a former secretary of the tribunal had said. The movie was with the FCAT for less than a week, and the dera head had blamed the “drug mafia” for stalling the release. MSG: Messenger of God was shot over 67 days at different locations across the country and is based on the theme of eradicating drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution and other social evils.