Highly anticipated film Emergency, directed by Kangana Ranaut, has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for a U/A certificate, but not without 13 significant changes. The modifications primarily address concerns raised by Sikh groups, who objected to certain scenes and dialogues for allegedly misrepresenting their community and faith.
Key Changes Demanded by the CBFC
- Disclaimer Addition: The CBFC has mandated the insertion of a disclaimer at the beginning of the film, clarifying that Emergency is “inspired by true events” and is a “dramatic transformation” of historical occurrences. “We want it to be clear to the audience that this is a dramatised version of events so that everything presented in there is not taken for the absolute truth,” said a source from the board.
- Historical Accuracy: In a scene where Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru alludes to China cutting off Assam from India, the CBFC has requested that the filmmakers provide a factual source to support this claim. “There are historians on the revising committee of CBFC, and they don’t recall this ever happening,” added the source.
- Bhindranwale Dialogue Cut: At 1 hour and 52 minutes into the film, a dialogue where Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale tells Sanjay Gandhi, “Tawadi Party nu vote chaide ne, te sanu chaindayye Khalistan (your party wants votes, we want Khalistan),” has been ordered to be dropped. The board believes it incorrectly suggests a deal between Bhindranwale and Sanjay Gandhi.
- Removal of ‘Sant’ and Bhindranwale’s Name: The CBFC has asked for the removal of the term “Sant” when referring to Bhindranwale in at least three scenes where he is not physically present. In these scenes, Bhindranwale is discussed by figures like Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Giani Zail Singh. Sikh groups raised concerns over the portrayal of Bhindranwale as a “saint” in conversations between political figures, prompting the changes.
- Toning Down Violence: A specific scene at 2 hours and 11 minutes, where Sikhs are shown inflicting violence on non-Sikhs, has been toned down. Additionally, a scene where Sikhs are depicted shooting non-Sikhs in front of a bus has been removed entirely. These were found objectionable by Sikh groups who felt the scenes misrepresented their community.
- Operation Bluestar Discussion: During a scene where Indira Gandhi and the Army chief discuss Operation Bluestar, a line referencing the operation starting on “Arjun Divas” has been flagged by the CBFC. The board noted that “Arjun Divas” does not exist in Sikh religious traditions, and has requested its removal.
- Real Footage Labelling: The CBFC has asked filmmakers to insert static messages identifying real footage wherever applicable in the movie.
- Documentary Evidence: The filmmakers are required to provide documentary proof for all statistics, statements, and historical references made in the movie.
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Sikh Groups’ Concerns
Several Sikh groups raised concerns that Emergency misrepresented their community and its leaders, especially in relation to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a key figure during the Khalistan movement. These groups strongly objected to referring to Bhindranwale as a “saint” and took issue with the portrayal of Sikh violence in the film. The filmmakers, including Kangana Ranaut, are now tasked with addressing these concerns to secure the release of the movie.
Filmmakers’ Response
On Thursday, the legal team representing Zee Entertainment, which is backing Emergency, requested additional time to consider the proposed cuts and changes. The filmmakers now have three options: accept and implement all of the CBFC’s suggested changes, make selective changes while contesting others, or challenge the board’s decision in court. The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on September 30.
