Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed Kangana Ranaut’s plea against emergency status
A still from the movie state of emergency Starring Kangana Ranaut. | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday (September 3, 2024) disposed of a plea against the release of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut-starrer Mukti. emergency, The film’s clearance is withheld after submission to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, however, directed the CBFC to consider the issues raised in the petition filed challenging various parts of the movie’s trailer.
Earlier on Monday (September 2, 2024), the High Court had issued notices to Ms. Ranaut, her production house Manikarnika Films, CBFC, Central and Madhya Pradesh governments, Zee Studios, among other entities associated with the upcoming film.
The writ petition was filed by two Sikh organizations – Jabalpur Sikh Sangat and Guru Singh Sabha, Indore – objecting to the film’s trailer and depiction of people from the Sikh community. The petitioners alleged that various scenes in the movie violated the fundamental rights of Sikhs and demanded an unconditional apology from Ms. Ranaut.
Petitioners objected to the use of the word “Khalistan” and claimed that the depiction could be worn by young Sikh children crackers (turban) being teased as “Khalistani“
CBFC submitted that a certificate was earlier issued for the film but it was withheld after the board received objections from various Sikh organisations.
In view of the film’s pending certification by the competent authority CBFC, the court declined to pass an order and noted that there was no point in “presuming” the matter.
“The learned Deputy Solicitor General further submitted that in view of the instructions and in view of the fact that the film has not yet been certified and is under examination in terms of the Cinematograph Act and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, if any further representation is made. received from any body/organization/individual, shall be considered while considering the certification of the film,” the court noted.
The petitioners also told the court that they had also raised their objections against the release of the film to the CBFC chairman.
“In view of the above, this petition is disposed of to allow the petitioners to file a comprehensive representation with the Central Board of Film Certification regarding the objection to the certification of the film and trailer within three days from today. After receiving the representation, the board will consider the objections to the film and take expeditious appropriate action regarding the trailer in accordance with the Act and the rules made thereunder before certifying the film,” the court directed .
The film written by Miss Ranaut is a biopic on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Originally announced to release in November 2023, the date has been pushed back multiple times with the makers announcing the latest release date on September 6. However, with the CBFC certification still pending, there is no clarity on whether the film will release next Friday (September 6, 2024).
