- By Srishti Pandey
- Thu, 19 Sep 2024 02:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Bombay High Court recently addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the release of Kangana Ranaut’s highly anticipated political drama, Emergency. Directed by and starring Ranaut, the film has faced delays due to political concerns and objections from certain Sikh groups, leading to an ongoing legal dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
A division bench comprising Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla criticised the CBFC for failing to make a timely decision regarding the film's certification, expressing frustration over the board's delays. The court noted that artistic freedom and freedom of expression should not be restricted based on the fear of public disorder.
The film, initially set for release on September 6, 2024, has faced backlash from various Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, for allegedly misrepresenting the community and distorting historical facts. This controversy, combined with fears of public unrest, led to delays in the film’s certification process.
Senior counsel Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the CBFC, stated that the film has been referred to the board’s revising committee due to concerns over potential public disorder. However, the court emphasized that the CBFC should not use this as an excuse to delay issuing a certificate and must decide one way or another.
WATCH EMERGENCY MOVIE TRAILER HERE:
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Justice Colabawalla remarked, “Does the CBFC think the people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie? What about creative freedom?” He further questioned why people have become so sensitive to what is depicted in films.
The legal representative for Zee Entertainment Enterprises, senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, alleged that the CBFC’s reluctance to issue a certificate stems from political pressure. Dhond claimed that the delay was intentional to prevent the film’s release before the state elections in Haryana, scheduled for October. This allegation has raised questions about potential interference from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Despite these claims, the court pointed out that Ranaut, the co-producer and star of Emergency, is a sitting BJP Member of Parliament, asking if the ruling party would act against its own member. The Bombay High Court ultimately directed the CBFC to finalize its decision on the film’s certification by September 25, 2024. The judges expressed their disappointment over the board's repeated delays, stating that the CBFC cannot indefinitely delay the process by shifting responsibility between departments.
Justice Colabawalla urged the CBFC to take a stand, saying, “You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness.” Emergency is a biographical drama depicting significant political events in India's history, with Kangana Ranaut portraying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film also features prominent actors, including Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram.
However, certain Sikh organizations, such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), have demanded the film’s ban, accusing it of defaming the Sikh community. They claim that the film portrays a biased narrative and misrepresents historical events.
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Kangana Ranaut, while speaking at an event, defended her film, stating, “We have the proper documents. There is nothing wrong with my film. But some people call Bhindranwale a saint, revolutionary or a leader. They threatened via pleas to ban my film.” She also mentioned receiving threats for portraying controversial historical figures.
