Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency is facing controversy following objections from Sikh organizations, which claim the film misrepresents the Sikh community and distorts historical facts. The film, which portrays the 1975 Emergency period under Indira Gandhi’s government and touches on related events like Gandhi’s assassination and the Khalistan movement, has had its Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance delayed due to threats received by board members.
Emergency, starring Kangana Ranaut and co-starring Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, and Milind Soman, dramatizes the 21-month period of Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi. The film also covers sensitive topics, including the Khalistan movement led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Written by Ranaut and co-produced by Zee Studios and her Manikarnika Films, the film was initially set for release last year but faced delays due to elections, with a new release date of September 6 now uncertain due to pending Censor Board approval.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which oversees Sikh religious institutions, has issued a legal notice to the film’s producers, alleging misrepresentation of Sikh history. The SGPC, along with Akal Takht, has demanded a ban on the film, claiming its trailer contains “anti-Sikh” content that has deeply offended the Sikh community.
SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal stated that the Censor Board’s halt on the film’s release is a positive step, emphasizing the need for harmony and accurate representation in media.
Kangana Ranaut has expressed frustration over alleged pressures to exclude depictions of sensitive historical events from the film. She questioned the restrictions on showing such events, contrasting this with the freedom to depict violence and controversial topics on OTT platforms. Ranaut criticized what she sees as selective censorship, arguing that nationalist viewpoints are unfairly targeted.
The film’s co-producer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, has taken legal action against the CBFC, seeking a directive for the release of the film. Zee Entertainment argues that the Censor Board’s withholding of the certification is arbitrary and illegal. The company claims that the board’s decision to delay certification due to unrest is inappropriate and that the CBFC should focus solely on censorship rather than law and order concerns.
The Bombay High Court is currently reviewing the petition, which contends that the CBFC’s actions are unjust and impediment to the film’s release.
