More Trouble For Kangana? SGPC To Not Allow Emergency Screening In Punjab

The CBFC has told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Emergency if filmmakers make 13 changes including cuts, insertions and modifications.

Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency', which is already awaiting a go-ahead from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), may have to face more problems in Punjab as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided not to let the film release in the state. The SGPC has passed a resolution demanding a ban on the "controversial movie". Some Sikh organisations accused the producers of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.

"Besides defaming the Sikhs, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has been shown in a bad light in the movie, which the community cannot tolerate. This film has been made with the spirit of spewing poison and spreading hatred against the community under the anti-Sikh agenda. We won’t allow it to be screened in Punjab," SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said.

The film, initially set to release on September 6, was postponed following protests from Sikh groups. The CBFC has told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Emergency if filmmakers make 13 changes including cuts, insertions and modifications, many of which pertain to scenes found objectionable by Sikh groups. The board has further requested the makers to insert a simple disclaimer wherever they have used real-life footage from the past.

Recently, the Chandigarh district court issued notices to Kangana and others on a complaint accusing them of maligning the image of Sikhs in the film. Kangana who is playing the lead role apart from directing the film, has maintained that it's a political drama and does not serve as a biopic of Indira Gandhi.

"Emergency" also stars Mahima Chaudhry, Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, and Shreyas Talpade. Talpade will portray Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Anupam Kher will appear as Jayaprakash Narayan, and the late Satish Kaushik will play the former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Jagjivan Ram.

Meanwhile, Kangana has reportedly sold her bungalow in Pali Hill, Bandra, Mumbai amid the controversy. This is the same property that came under scrutiny by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2020. In September of that year, the BMC partially demolished Kangana's office, citing illegal construction. However, the demolition was halted after a stay order from the Bombay High Court on September 9.