Teaser Is So Offensive’: Supreme Court Halts Release of ‘Hamare Baraah’ Pending Bombay HC Decision on CBFC Certification Challenge

Ziya Khan June 14, 2024Last Updated: June 14, 2024

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, suspended the screening of the film “Hamare Baarah” until the case pending over its release before the Bombay High Court is disposed of on its merits. The film, which was scheduled to release on June 14, has been alleged to be derogatory towards the Islamic faith and married Muslim women in India. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order in response to a plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s order permitting the release of the film. The bench ordered that the screening of the movie in question shall remain suspended until the petition before the High Court is disposed of.

During the hearing, the judges mentioned that they had watched the teaser of the movie and found it to be offensive. They noted that the teaser is available on YouTube and contains objectionable materials. The Supreme Court’s decision comes after the Bombay High Court had initially restrained the release of the film on any public platform until June 14, 2024.The film’s release was challenged in the Bombay High Court by petitioner Azhar Basha Tamboli against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), seeking to revoke the certification granted to the film and injuncting its release. The petitioner alleged that the film was derogatory to the Islamic faith and married Muslim women in India, contravening the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and associated rules and guidelines.

The CBFC argued that the certification for the film was granted after following all necessary procedures and that the objectionable scenes and dialogues were deleted. The Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the film’s release reflects the ongoing legal battle surrounding its content and certification, emphasizing the sensitivity and significance of the issues raised. The film “Hamare Baarah” is currently embroiled in controversies and legal challenges, with its release being halted until the pending case before the Bombay High Court is resolved.

The petitioner, dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision to allow the release of the film and form a committee by the CBFC, has approached the Supreme Court. During today’s hearing in the Supreme Court, Advocate Fauzia Shakil, representing the petitioner, argued that the High Court made an error by instructing the CBFC to appoint a committee, as it was a party with a vested interest.