Bombay High Court asks CBFC to decide on Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Emergency’ release

Bombay High Court directs CBFC to decide on Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' movie release by September 25, 2024.

In a major set-back to actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut’s movie ‘Emergency’, the Bombay High Court on Thursday (September 19, 2024) directed the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC] to decide whether to release the film or not by September 25, 2024. With this decision of the High Court, the makers of the film face further delay in releasing the film in theatres, adding more financial trouble.

The matter took interesting turn when the co-producers of the film, Zee Entertainment Enterprises on Thursday (September 19, 2024) informed the Division Bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla of the Bombay High Court that the Kangana Ranaut, who is an actor, filmmaker and politician serving as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Mandi since June 2024 is facing difficulties at the behest of the Bharatiya Janta Party [BJP].

Representing Zee, senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond submitted, “The CBFC is purposely delaying the release of Emergency. The Board wants the film to be released only after the elections in Haryana in October are over. Kangana Ranaut, the co-producer of the film, is a BJP MP and the party [BJP] do not want a film which hurts the sentiments of certain communities by a BJP member at a time when elections are around. I can say that all this is happening at the behest of the ruling party BJP, at the Centre. They are looking at their overall interests and thus do not want this film to be released. Ms. Ranaut has been asked to maintain discipline but I do not want to delve into this much.”

Hearing Mr. Dhond’s submission, Justice Colabawalla asked, “So you mean to say that it will affect the voting decision of people voting for the BJP? Why would someone ruling in a State want to thwart the film made by their own member? Had it been that the State was ruled by some other Opposition party, we could have considered it. Why do people get affected like this? My community is made fun of in almost every film. We laugh along and do not consider it is against our community. So does that mean that the ruling party at the Centre is acting against its own MP?”

Appearing for the CBFC, advocate Abhinav Chandrachud said the CBFC is yet to make a final call on the certification of the film as there are objections on the release of the film by the Sikh community. “Madhya Pradesh High Court has passed an order asking the Board to consider the representation of a certain community. Considering that, the Board has sent it to the review committee. The chairman has referred the matter to the review committee. He cannot decide suo moto.”

Expressing displeasure over the delay in the release certificate of the film, the Bench said, “The CBFC have to take a decision one way or the other. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness. We do not want the CBFC to sit on the fence. Take a decision one way or the other by September 25.”

Mr. Chandrachud also pointed out certain scenes in the film and said that a person who is a polarising figure of a specific religious persuasion is seen ‘cutting a deal’ with political parties and CBFC’s revising committee has to ascertain its factual accuracy.