Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film, Emergency, has been embroiled in controversy, facing a significant hurdle on Wednesday as the Bombay High Court denied a plea to expedite its release.
The movie, co-produced by Ranaut’s Manikarnika Films and Zee Studios, has been at the centre of a massive row following objections from Sikh organisations. Despite the legal setback, the BJP MP and actress claimed a partial victory, stating, “High court has blasted censor for illegally withholding the certificate of #emergency,” in a post on X.
Emergency, which depicts the Emergency period imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975, was initially set for release on September 6. However, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the highest religious authority for Sikhs, alleged that the film misrepresents Sikhs and sought a ban.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had put a hold on issuing the certificate necessary for the film’s release, citing concerns raised by religious groups. Government sources later confirmed that the content was deemed “sensitive” and under serious review.
In response to the CBFC’s actions, Zee Entertainment Enterprises approached the Bombay High Court, seeking a directive for the Board to issue the certification. Arguing the case, Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Zee, revealed that on August 8, the CBFC found Emergency suitable for public viewing, subject to modifications, which were promptly made by the filmmakers.
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On August 29, an email from the CBFC indicated that the certificate was ready for collection, but it was subsequently withheld due to opposition from Sikh communities.
Dhond argued that the CBFC’s role is to censor films, not manage law and order situations. “The maker of the film is a sitting MP. They gave her a censor certificate and could have simply said, look we have given the censor certificate and now if there is unrest, the State can take care of the same,” he asserted.
However, the CBFC’s Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud countered that the certification process is incomplete until the Censor Board’s chairperson signs the certificate. He emphasized that the Bombay High Court cannot issue directives that would contravene an earlier ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The Bombay High Court acknowledged that while the CBFC had seemingly completed the certification process by sealing the modified film, it could not override the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order. That court had specifically instructed the CBFC to consider the representations of the Jabalpur Sikh Sangat before issuing any certification.
The bench, therefore, declined to direct the CBFC to release the certificate, underscoring the need to respect judicial propriety. “Judicial Propriety demands such orders ought not be passed. We, therefore, are unable to direct the CBFC to issue the certificate as sought by the petitioner,” the court ruled, keeping the petition open while directing the CBFC to address all objections before the next hearing on September 19.
This legal development means that Emergency is unlikely to hit theatres in the near future, much to the disappointment of its producers and fans. The ongoing controversy has also raised questions about the film’s depiction of historical events and its impact on religious sentiments, further complicating its path to release.
As the legal battle continues, all eyes will be on the CBFC’s next move, with the court urging a swift resolution to the objections. For now, the much-anticipated release of Emergency remains in limbo.
