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Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’ May Be Released After Cuts, Says CBFC: Film Faces Protests Over Historical Portrayal

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Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’ May Be Released After Cuts, Says CBFC: Film Faces Protests Over Historical Portrayal

Kangana Ranaut’s much-awaited political drama Emergency is facing obstacles before its release. The Central Board of Film Certification informed the Bombay High Court that the film, which explores the controversial 21-month Emergency imposed by former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, can only be released after specific cuts suggested by the revising committee. The film, which was supposed to hit the theaters on 6th September, has already been put under the shelf due to protests by Sikh groups who claimed the film defamed them. The controversy so far and what is in store for Emergency, is discussed.

CBFC Reccomendations
The CBFC has offered a list of 11 cuts to be done to Emergency. These include cuts and insertions to the scenes that the board feels must be made before the film is released. Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the CBFC, placed before the Bombay High Court these recommendations on the back of a plea filed by Zee Studios. The plea asked for the release of the censor certificate for the film, which had been delayed on account of objections thrown up by some groups.

Advocate Sharan Jagtiani, appearing for Zee Studios, read a document that enumerated 11 cuts suggested by the CBFC. Though the details of the cuts have not been issued into public domain, it is assumed that such cuts are on scenes that depict historical happenings in a manner that was objectionable to certain communities such as the Sikhs.

Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' May Be Released After Cuts, Says CBFC Film Faces Protests Over Historical Portrayal

Objections by the Sikh Community
One of the major hassles in releasing Emergency is the severity of the backlash of Sikh organizations across India. There are various groups across the nation, like Punjab and Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and New Delhi, where people claim that the film distorts history and portrays the Sikh community negatively. They say their community has been misrepresented in the movie and hence called for a total release ban.

This is based on the Sikhs’ perception that the film fails to depict several historical aspects of the Emergency days, particularly related to how the minorities were treated then. They feel that such depiction would harm the reputation of their community and change people’s perceptions of what their contribution to India’s political heritage was.

 Legal Proceedings in Bombay High Court
Supporting such protests, Zee Studios filed an appeal in Bombay High Court to get censor certificate for the movie. Application was pending before the bench constituted with two Justices of Bombay High Court, BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla. The CBFC clarified its stand during the hearing that it would release the film only after changes made in the letter pointed out.

The matter was directed to be adjourned for September 30 so that the filmmakers are given adequate time to take either of the two options which is to either accede to the changes or file an appeal against the order of the CBFC. Now, the filmmakers will have to do either wait for releasing the film with incorporating suggested changes in it or contest the decision of the CBFC in the court which could only delay the release.

Filmmakers Reaction on CBFC’s Decision
The makers of Emergency have not yet made any public statement over whether they will accept the changes suggested by the CBFC. Actress and director of the film Kangana Ranaut has spoken candidly about her vision for the film; she says it is a bold and truthful representation of a critical period in Indian history.

It will be interesting to see how Ranaut and Zee Studios respond to the CBFC’s suggestions. Submission to cuts for the impending release may make way for the originality of the filmmaker, which will be completely lost to ensure the much-needed release; on the other hand, if they choose to go to court against the CBFC, they may further delay the release but help the filmmakers maintain some of the disputable scenes that they believe are a part of their narration.

Synopsis of Emergency
It is this enthralling political thriller called Emergency that explores the late former Prime Minister of India who had imposed the 21 month Emergency period from 1975 to 1977. The movie attempts to bring into canvas and recreate one of the most divisive politically charged periods in the history of post-independence India, marked by suspended civil liberties, press censorship, and systematic political opposition killing.

The film stars Kangana Ranaut, who enjoys playing bold and provocative characters. The film might, then, imply the personal and political choices that triggered the declaration of Emergency and subsequently bestowed far-reaching impacts on the Indian society and governance.

Impact of Protest on Release of the film
The protests by Sikh groups and the legal proceedings, for now, have already dented the release schedule of the film. Whereas the film was supposed to hit the theaters on September 6, the film has now indefinitely been postponed until the issues with the CBFC and the Sikh community are resolved.

Not the first time that a Bollywood film has stood accused of historical inaccuracies and has faced protests and judicial backlash regarding the depiction of historical events. Other films, such as Padmaavat and Udta Punjab, have faced widespread criticism from the community and have gone through cuts or changes in the script before being released.

Conclusion
The fate of Emergency now waits in the balance with this decision from the filmmakers. Moving head with her ambitious project, Kangana Ranaut is now facing a much tougher journey against stiff opposition from the Sikh community and legal challenges before her film can find its way to the silver screen. Whether the filmmakers will accept the cuts suggested by the CBFC or fight back for their original vision remains to be seen. It can be easily seen that Emergency has made a huge impact on the cultural and political conversation in India even before its release.

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