Emergency Release Date: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Kangana Ranuat’s film Emergency if certain cuts are made, as recommended by its revising committee. The movie’s co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises had moved the HC, seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film Emergency, helmed by Kangana, after its release was deferred from its original date – September 6 – due to objection by certain Sikh groups and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), over the representation of the community in the movie.
Court’s decision on Emergency release deferred
A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla last week came down heavily on the CBFC for not taking a decision on the issuance of a certificate for Emergency. On Thursday, the bench asked the CBFC if it has “good news” for the movie. CBFC’s counsel Abhinav Chandrachud told the court that the board’s revising committee has taken its decision. “The committee has suggested some cuts before certificate can be issued and movie can be released,” he said.
Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani, appearing for Zee Entertainment, sought time to take a decision on whether or not the cuts can be made. The bench then posted the matter for further hearing on September 30. Zee Entertainment in its plea claimed the CBFC had already made the certificate for the movie but was not issuing it.
What is the controversy surrounding Emergency?
Kangana Ranaut , who has directed and co-produced the film besides playing the lead role of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi, had accused the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) of stalling certification to delay the release. The biographical drama is caught up in controversy after some Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal objected, accusing it of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.