The Bombay High Court on Friday resolved the ongoing dispute over the certification of Kangana Ranaut’s film “Emergency.” The court disposed of a petition filed by Zee Entertainment after the film’s producers and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reached an agreement.
Kangana Ranaut and her team initially found the cuts requested by the CBFC, to earn certification, unreasonable. The producers took the matter to the Bombay High Court, seeking a resolution. According to the timeline, Manikarnika Films has 30 days to submit the film with the necessary changes. After submission, the CBFC will have 14 days to verify and issue the certification.
A division bench comprising Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla accepted the statements from both parties and decided to dispose of the petition. The court mentioned that a detailed order would be issued later.
The controversy surrounding “Emergency” primarily stems from its portrayal of historical events and figures, particularly those involving the Sikh community. The film, initially set for release on September 6, 2024, faced delays due to these issues.
Last week, the CBFC informed the High Court that the movie could be released if certain cuts, as decided by the board’s revising committee, were made. Senior counsel Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the CBFC, stated that once the film is resubmitted with the required cuts, it would be verified, and a certificate would be issued within two weeks.The producers have requested two weeks to implement these changes.
Emergency attracted protests from Sikh groups regarding its portrayal of their community, with Sikh organizations such as SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal condemning its release. The CBFC’s decision came after considering representations from various Sikh groups and directives issued by the courts.
The SGPC has been vocal about its objections to the film. They sent a legal notice a month ago to the producers, including Kangana Ranaut, demanding the removal of scenes they found objectionable and a written apology to the Sikh community.
The SGPC’s primary concerns are that the film misrepresents historical events and figures, particularly depicting Sikhs in a negative light. They argue that the film portrays Sikhs as terrorists and separatists, which they find deeply offensive and far from the truth. The SGPC also wrote to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the Chairperson of the CBFC, urging them to ban the film.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also echoed similar sentiments. They criticized the film for its alleged misrepresentation of Sikh history and community. The SAD also sent a legal notice to the CBFC, demanding that the film’s certification be revoked. They argued that the film promotes hatred and could incite communal tensions, particularly in Punjab. They called for the film to be banned unless the objectionable content is removed.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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