In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has stayed the release of the film ‘Hamare Baarah,’ starring Annu Kapoor. The film, which was slated for release on June 14, faces allegations of being derogatory towards the Islamic faith and Muslim women. The apex court has directed the Bombay High Court to expedite the hearing of a petition challenging the movie’s certification.
A vacation bench consisting of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the stay order, effectively halting the film’s release until the petition is resolved. “Until disposal of the petition before the High Court, screening of the movie in question shall remain suspended. We request the High Court to dispose of the plea expeditiously,” the bench stated in its order.
The controversy began when Azhar Basha Tamboli filed a petition against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for granting certification to ‘Hamare Baarah.’ She claimed that the film’s content was offensive to the Islamic faith and derogatory to Muslim women. In response, the Supreme Court reviewed the film’s teaser and found it “offensive,” prompting the decision to halt its release.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Producer Virender Bhagat expressed gratitude to the apex court for considering their side of the story. He emphasized that the censor board had approved the film, recognizing its theme of women’s empowerment and population awareness. “The censor board said that this is a movie on women’s empowerment and population awareness and had submitted the report to the Bombay High Court,” Bhagat told ANI.
Previously, the Bombay High Court had permitted the release of ‘Hamare Baarah’ after the filmmakers agreed to delete two controversial dialogues. The court’s dissatisfaction with a three-person review committee, which failed to provide a timely report, led to this decision. Senior advocate Rahul Narichania, representing the filmmakers, assured the court of the deletion to avoid further delays.
The Karnataka government has also banned the film’s release for two weeks or until further notice, citing potential communal tension. The Congress-led state government made this decision following requests from several minority organizations and a review of the film’s trailer. The movie was initially scheduled for a nationwide release on June 7, 2024.
Directed by Kamal Chandra and jointly produced by Birender Bhagat, Ravi S Gupta, Sanjay Nagpal, and Sheo Balak Singh, ‘Hamare Baarah’ aims to shed light on the critical issue of overpopulation. The film stars notable actors Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, and Paritosh Tripathi, and is anticipated to deliver a powerful narrative on social issues.
As the Bombay High Court prepares to hear the petition expeditiously, the future of ‘Hamare Baarah’ remains uncertain. The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the delicate balance between creative expression and sensitivity towards religious sentiments. The outcome of this legal battle will be keenly watched by the film industry and social commentators alike. For now, the fate of ‘Hamare Baarah’ hinges on the Bombay High Court’s forthcoming decisions, setting a crucial precedent for similar cases in the future.
