Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s new film, ‘Emergency’, can be released as long as some cuts – to be recommended by a revision committee – are made, the Censor Board of Film Certification told the Bombay High Court Thursday afternoon.
Ms Ranaut’s film – which is based on the Emergency imposed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi – has been stuck with the CBFC amid complaints by the Sikh apex religious body, that it misrepresents their community. Government sources later told NDTV “there is some sensitive content in the movie” and acknowledged “religious sentiments cannot be hurt”.
The High Court was hearing a petition by the movie’s co-producers, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking the release of the censor certificate so the movie can hit the screens.
The movie was supposed to release on September 6.
Last week the court directed the censor board to take a final call on the film’s release, accepting the film ratings body’s reservations but noting “it is not for CBFC to decide whether this affects public order”.
Justice BP Colabwalla, one of two judges in the division bench hearing this case, pointed out Ms Ranaut’s production is not a documentary, and asked, “Do you think public is so naive they will believe everything in a movie? What about creative freedom?”
The court also said the CBFC “can’t sit on the fence”. “Take a decision. Let’s see what the revising committee says, be it deciding to release or not, take a decision. Have the courage to say that the film should not be released. We will appreciate the stand of the CBFC,” it said.
Abhinav Chandrachud, the censor board’s counsel, had earlier told the court some scenes show a polarising figure cutting a deal with political parties. “We have to see if this is factually accurate,” he said.
Earlier, the matter came up before the Madhya Pradesh High Court when two Sikh organisations filed a Public Interest Litigation. In response, the Censor Board told the court that the movie had not been issued a certificate. The court then disposed of the petition.
