CBFC panel for 13 changes in Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency before release
The CBFC was responding to a plea by co-producer Zee Entertainment which alleged that CBFC was “illegally” and “arbitrarily” withholding certification for the film.
Kangana Ranaut portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film Emergency (File Photo)
The revising committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency for a U/A certification, provided the filmmakers make 13 changes including cuts, insertions and modifications, many of which pertain to scenes found objectionable by Sikh groups.
The CBFC was responding to a plea by co-producer Zee Entertainment which alleged that CBFC was “illegally” and “arbitrarily” withholding certification for the film.
It is directed and co-produced by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut who also plays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
After the lawyer representing Zee Entertainment sought time to take instructions to decide whether the cuts should be made, the bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla posted the matter for hearing on Monday, September 30.
According to the communication by CBFC to the film producers, the revising committee perused representations from Sikh groups raising concerns over portrayal of the community in the movie trailer.
The Board, giving reasons for granting UA certificate to the film subject to the modifications, said the film contained “scenes depicting political violence and unrest, along with mild references to atrocities against women” and, therefore, the committee has deemed it suitable for viewing with parental guidance
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Of the 13 changes, the committee has recommended six insertions, four excisions, including removal of words ‘Sant’ and ‘Bhindranwale’ from a certain dialogue between two top political leaders, deletion of phrase praising Bhindranwale and removal of certain visuals and dialogues involving the targeting of non-Sikhs.
It also asked the producers to delete a dialogue referring to ‘Khalistan’ and tone down certain scenes depicting Sikhs.
The Board has also asked the producers to carry out three modifications in scenes and dialogues.
The revising committee has also requested a disclaimer at the beginning, stating that the film is “inspired by true events” and is a “dramatic transformation”.
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On September 19, the High Court had directed CBFC to take a decision by September 25 on the release of the film, stating that the delay in certification restricts freedom of expression.
It said the longer the film takes to get released, the greater the financial burden on producers. It asked CBFC to “not sit on the fence” and take the decision one way or the other by September 25.
The petitioner, during an earlier hearing, had contended a “political angle” – that the Haryana polls were the reason for the delay in the release of the certification.
“They (ruling BJP) are willing to displease the sitting MP (Ranaut, who is a co-producer and represents Mandi constituency in Lok Sabha) to appease a particular section of the society. Here is a film which is anti-Sikh as per some groups. Then who will be responsible for releasing an anti-Sikh movie? It will be the CBFC, which is the executive. So, some members of the community will say we will not vote for the ruling party in the coming Haryana polls,” the lawyer for petitioner Zee Entertainment had said.
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The bench said, “You mean to say the political party is ruling against its own Member of Parliament?” The petitioner responded in the affirmative and sought an urgent decision.
On Thursday, as hearing on the plea began, Justice Colabawalla told Abhinav Chandrachud, advocate for CBFC, “Give us some good news.” Chandrachud said the Board has decided and suggested some cuts to the film, and if cuts are made, the film can be released.
Senior Advocate Sharan Jagtiani, representing the petitioner, sought time to take instructions to decide whether cuts could be made to the film.
On September 4, the HC said it was unable to pass directions to CBFC to issue Emergency’s certification due to a Madhya Pradesh HC order on a plea by Sikh groups. Ranaut and her co-producers have also faced legal notice from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for allegedly “misrepresenting the character and history of the Sikh” community.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
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