The Bombay High Court Friday disposed of Zee Entertainment’s petition alleging that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was “illegally” and “arbitrarily” withholding certification for the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Emergency film. The decision was taken after Zee Entertainment Enterprises, a co-producer of the film, informed the Bombay High Court that certain changes including cuts suggested by the revising committee of the CBFC were agreed with.
The producers said that, as per the arrangement made between the parties to the case, they will submit the film once such changes are made and the CBFC will verify the same and issue a certificate within 14 days (two weeks) thereafter.
“It is needless to say that while disposing of this petition, the Court has neither commented on the merits of the contentions of either parties. Any observations made in earlier orders to be treated only as prima facie observations. All rights and contentions of parties are reserved,” a division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla noted in the order.
Last week, the CBFC told the high court that Ranaut’s Manikarnika Films had agreed to most of the changes its revising committee had sought for the release.
On Thursday, Zee Entertainment told the bench that it was working out with CBFC the issues over the issuance of a certificate for the movie and had sought more time to confirm changes recommended by the revising committee to the producers.
On Friday, senior advocate Sharan Jagtiani for Zee Entertainment submitted that an arrangement was made between the parties to the case and the cuts were carried out based on a September 28 email communication of CBFC to Manikarnika films suggesting changes to avail UA certificate for the film. In light of this, Jagtiani sought disposal of the plea.
Emergency is directed and co-produced by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut who also plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the film.
The petitioner had contended a “political angle” that the Haryana polls scheduled on October 5 were the reason for the delay in the release of the certification.
The Board, giving reasons for granting UA certificate to the film subject to the modifications, said the film contained “scenes depicting political violence and unrest, along with mild references to atrocities against women” and, therefore, the committee has deemed it suitable for viewing with parental guidance.
The CBFC’s revising committee examined representations from Sikh groups raising concerns over the portrayal of the community in the movie trailer.
Of the 13 changes, the committee recommended six insertions, four excisions, including removal of words “Sant” and “Bhindranwale” from a certain dialogue between two top political leaders, the deletion of a phrase praising Bhindranwale and the removal of certain visuals and dialogues involving the targeting of non-Sikhs.
It also asked the producers to delete a dialogue referring to Khalistan and tone down certain scenes depicting Sikhs. The Board had also asked the producers to make three modifications in scenes and dialogues.
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