Emergency Release Date: Bombay HC Raps CBFC For Certification Delay, Says 'You Must Have Courage...'

Emergency Release Date: The Kangana Ranaut starrer is yet to be green-lit by the censor board. The release of the film scheduled on September 6 was stalled by CBFC leading the makers to move to court. The Bombay High Court today, September 19, has issued a stern warning to the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) and directed the body to declare the film fit or unfit for release in a statement.

Bombay High Court reprimands CBFC for being a ‘fence sitter’ in Emergency release date controversy

Emergency ran into legal trouble when several complaints against the Kangana Ranaut starrer alleged that the film hurt the sentiment of the Sikh community by showing them in a negative light. For the unversed, the political drama directed by and starring Kangana Ranaut narrates the life of the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Punjab riots, separatist leader Bhindarwale and the PM's assassination. In this regard, the movie is stuck with the censor board.

In the hearing on September 19, the Bombay High Court division bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla reprimanded the CBFC for ‘dragging its feat’ from the decision. As per Livelaw Justice Colabawalla, also questioned how people get affected by such depictions in films, "Why do people get affected like this? My community is made fun of, in almost every film. We laugh along and don't consider it is against our community," the judge, who is a Parsi, remarked.

Court directs CBFC to make a decision on Emergency release date latest by September 25 

The judges also questioned the CBFC for belittling the intelligence of the people of India. As per Livelaw, Justice Colabawalla argued, “This isn't a documentary... Do you think people of our country are so naive that they will believe whatever is shown in the film? What about creative freedom? There are billions of internet users in our country... This issue of objecting release of films needs to stop otherwise what about the creative freedom and the freedom of speech and expression in our country? We are only curtailing creative freedom then.”  

In its final decision, the court has directed the censor board to give a firm decision on whether Emergency will see light of day or not latest by September 25. Before adjourning the matter Justice Colabawalla said, “Whatever you want to do, you do but you have to take a decision by September 25. You make a decision. Have the courage to say that the film should not be released. We will appreciate the stand of the CBFC. Don't be a fence sitter. We will decide the issue even if you say that the film should not be released. Have the courage to say that the film should not be released.”

The movie, in which Ranaut portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was initially slated for release on September 6.