Charismatic and controversial freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is clearly not a selling proposition in Madhya Pradesh, with Shyam Benegal's biopic on his life not even getting a screening in the state.

Benegal's film "Bose - The Forgotten Hero" was released over much of India last Friday, except for Madhya Pradesh because no distributor - most of whom are based in Indore - picked it up.

With films flopping one after another, exhibitors and distributors are becoming picky about the films they promote. And a film on Bose is clearly not worth the risk.

"People do not go to theatres to watch such movies so no distributor of Indore has bought the film. The movie may be great but distributors are doubtful about the returns," said Sandeep Jain, a distributor based in Indore.

Jain said distributors might buy the rights if it was made tax-free. "Such movies have very limited audience and hence the government should help," he said.

Added Rakesh Narula, manager of Jyoti Talkies, a cinema hall in this state capital: "No distributor bought the rights of this film in Madhya Pradesh. I do not know the exact reason.

"But these days distributors and film hall owners are incurring heavy losses and have therefore become very choosy. They do not go for movies unless high profits are not guaranteed."

Biopics and Madhya Pradesh clearly don't go together. Narula said the same thing had happened earlier with the three films on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

"All the three movies were well-made but few distributors Madhya Pradesh bought the rights of the movie."

While exhibitors and distributors defend their stance, movie buffs and others are furious.

"It's ridiculous. Subhash Chandra Bose had a close connection with Madhya Pradesh and it is in this state that the movie has not been released. Bose was re-elected Congress president in 1939 in Tripuri in the eastern part of the state," said Shyamal Chatterjee, a retired professor residing in Bhopal.

Bank official Pralay Shrivastava had a different point of view. He admitted he was not really interested in history, but admired Bose. "Subhas Chandra Bose's contribution to the freedom struggle is of immense importance. I wanted to watch the movie in order to know more about his life."