The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the CBFC to decide on certificate to Kangana Ranaut starrer movie 'Emergency' by September 25. The court said that creative freedom can't be curtailed on apprehension of public disorder and directed the CBFC to decide on certificate for film 'Emergency'. The court today took strong exception of delay by CBFC and said that the Censor Board is not required to worry about law and order implications while certifying a movie.
Is BJP Blocking Its Own MP's Film?
During the hearing today, the co-producers (Zee Entertainment Enterprises) of the movie "Emergency" told the Bombay High Court that the film starring BJP member of parliament (MP) Kangana Ranaut, is being blocked from release at the behest of the BJP itself, the LiveLaw reported.
Appearing for the Zee Studios, Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond, told the high court that the CBFC was purposely dragging the film's release as it wants the same to be released only after the Haryana elections in October this year.
Dhondh argued in court that the co-producer is a BJP MP and the party does not want a film which hurts the sentiments of certain communities by a BJP member (Kanagan Ranuat). Dhondh said that their is a sizeable sikh population in Haryana and the Centre does not want a film that hurts Sikh sentiments to be relased before elections.
Responding to this argument, Justice Colabawalla asked, "So you mean to say that it will affect the voting decision of people voting for BJP? Why would someone ruling in a State want to thwart the film made by their own member?"
The argument by Zee did not find any ground in front of the bench.
"Had it been that the State was ruled by some other opposition party, we could have considered it," the report quoted the judge saying.
In the previous hearing, the Bombay High Court had said it cannot direct CBFC to issue a certificate to the film, as the Madhya Pradesh High Court has already ordered the Censor Board to decide the representations made by the Jabalpur Sikh Sangat, which have objected to the film and its Trailer.
However, the Bombay High Court had directed the CBFC to decide the representations made by the Jabalpur Sikh Sangat or anyone else, latest by September 18. Today, the high court again directed CBFC to decide by September 25, the PTI reported.
Kangana's movie, which she has been promoting as an adaptation of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life, was due to release on September 6.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the co-producer company of the movie 'Emergency', had moved the Bombay High Court seeking the release of actress Kangana Ranaut's film and a censor certificate.
The petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court, stating that the censor board has arbitrarily and illegally withheld the censor certificate of the film. Zee had filed a plea in the court seeking an official copy of the film’s certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Previously, the Madhya Pradesh High Court said that it won't interfere in the matter of release of the film 'Emergency' and asked the CBFC to consider the objections raised over the trailer of the film by two Sikh bodies. Today, the Bombay HC has asked CBFC to decide by September 18.