CBFC

The makers of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency have approached the Bombay High Court, seeking its release and a censor certificate. Co-produced by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the petition was filed on Wednesday, accusing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of arbitrarily withholding the censor certificate. According to the plea, the CBFC is allegedly ready with the certificate but has refrained from issuing it. The plea was mentioned before a division bench of Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla, who agreed to hear the case later in the day. Originally slated for release on September 6, the film’s launch was postponed indefinitely following objections from Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal. The groups accused the movie of misrepresenting the community and distorting historical facts, sparking controversy around its content. Directed and co-produced by Kangana Ranaut, who also plays the lead role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the biographical drama has faced significant backlash. Ranaut, a BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, expressed disappointment over the delay, accusing authorities of imposing an “Emergency” on her movie. Reacting to the postponement, Ranaut stated, “It’s a very hopeless state. I’m quite disappointed by our country and the circumstances.” She argued that the events depicted in her film are not new, referencing other films like Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar and Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur, which portrayed similar historical episodes. Determined to release her film uncut, Ranaut vowed to fight the legal battle, stating, “I’ve made this film with a lot of self-respect, which is why the CBFC can’t point out any contention… I’ll fight in court and release an uncut version.” Source: Hindustan Times