Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency Moves Forward in Bombay High Court After Agreement on CBFC’s Requested Cuts

Ziya Khan 2 days agoLast Updated: October 1, 2024

Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut is currently responding to requests from the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) regarding her directorial venture, Emergency. During a recent hearing at the Bombay High Court, it was disclosed that Ranaut has been in discussions with the board and has agreed to some of the revisions suggested by its revising committee. This legal situation emerged following a petition from Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the film’s co-producers, seeking the necessary certification for its theatrical release. The CBFC informed the court that Ranaut is willing to comply with some of their proposed cuts; however, it remains unclear if she accepted all of their recommendations.

According to an NDTV report, the division bench—comprised of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla—has scheduled additional hearings for Thursday. The board has reportedly requested a total of 13 edits to the film, which features Ranaut in the lead role of the late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film was initially set to release on September 6 but has faced criticism over alleged historical inaccuracies and possible misrepresentation of the Sikh community.

Earlier this month, the court instructed the CBFC to arrive at a conclusive decision on the matter, emphasizing that the board should not base its judgment on potential public order repercussions. Justice Colabawalla raised an important question about audience perception, asking, “Do you think the public is so naive they will believe everything in a movie? What about creative freedom?”The judges urged the board to take decisive action, stating, “Take a decision. Let’s see what the revising committee says.

Have the courage to say the film should not be released if necessary.” The board’s counsel noted that certain scenes depict a controversial figure interacting with political parties, complicating the review process.In response to the CBFC’s recommendations, Ranaut expressed her frustration, labeling some suggestions as “quite unreasonable.” While she values feedback, she feels some requests are excessive. Encouragingly, she mentioned that historians and members of the review committee praised the film as a faithful depiction of its subject. “We’ve received requests for cuts, but while feedback is always welcome, some suggestions seem quite unreasonable.