Mumbai: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has announced that Kangana Ranaut’s highly anticipated biographical drama, “Emergency,” could receive its certification if specific edits recommended by the board’s revising committee are implemented. This development was shared by CBFC’s counsel Abhinav Chandrachud to the Bombay High Court on Thursday.
The film, which was originally set to be released on September 6, has been at the center of a tumultuous battle with the censor board over the non-issuance of the necessary certification for its release. Kangana Ranaut, who not only directed and co-produced the film but also plays the role of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, accused the CBFC of intentionally delaying the certification to stall the movie’s release.
The biographical drama has sparked a significant amount of controversy, particularly from some Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, which have objected to the movie. They claim that the film misrepresents the Sikh community and distorts historical facts.
Last week, a division bench consisting of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla criticized the CBFC for failing to make a decision regarding the film’s certification. The Bombay High Court emphasized that the censor board could not remain indecisive and must take a definitive stance, noting that any delay would, in effect, curtail the freedom of speech and expression.
The court mandated that the CBFC must arrive at a decision by September 25. In response to this, the movie’s co-producer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, took the matter to the Bombay High Court, seeking a directive for the CBFC to issue the required certificate.
During the court session on Thursday, the bench inquired if the CBFC had any “good news” regarding the film. Responding to this, Chowdhury revealed that the board’s revising committee had indeed reached a decision, proposing some cuts before the certification could be granted.
Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani, representing Zee Entertainment, requested additional time to determine whether the suggested cuts could be made. Consequently, the hearing was adjourned and rescheduled for September 30.
In its petition, Zee Entertainment claimed that the CBFC had already prepared the certificate for the film but had not issued it yet. Last week, Zee Entertainment also alleged that political motives and upcoming elections in Haryana were the reasons behind the withholding of the certificate.
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The court had previously expressed its puzzlement over why the ruling party would act against Ranaut, who is a Member of Parliament affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite this, the CBFC remained firm on its stance, suggesting edits as a prerequisite for certification.
Amidst these developments, Ranaut has been vocal in her criticism of the CBFC, accusing it of using bureaucratic red tape to delay the film’s release. She argued that the board’s actions were an attempt to suppress the film’s narrative, which delves into sensitive political and historical periods.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the controversy surrounding the film’s depiction of the Sikh community. The Shiromani Akali Dal has been particularly vocal, asserting that the film portrays the community inaccurately and disrespects its historical significance. Their objections have added another layer of scrutiny on the film’s content, further complicating the certification process.
On Thursday, as the court reconvened, CBFC’s counsel reiterated that the revising committee’s decision included critical edits. Senior counsel Jagtiani requested time to decide on the feasibility of implementing these edits, leading the bench to schedule another hearing for September 30.
In its statement, Zee Entertainment pointed out that the CBFC had completed the certification process but refrained from issuing the certificate. The entertainment conglomerate suggested that the delay was politically motivated due to the looming elections in Haryana, which could potentially influence the CBFC’s decision-making process.
The bench briefly wondered about the rationale behind the ruling party’s actions, especially against an MP from their own ranks. Despite these speculations, the focus remained on the timeline for the CBFC to take a decisive action on the film’s certification.
The court, reiterating its previous stance, directed the CBFC to finalize its decision by September 25 to ensure there was no further infringement on freedom of speech and expression, a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution.
As the next hearing approaches on September 30, all eyes remain on the CBFC and Zee Entertainment’s response to the proposed edits. The film community, along with the general public, are keenly watching how this standoff resolves and whether “Emergency” will finally see the light of day on the big screen.
