Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' Stuck At CBFC Amid Controversy And Threats

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut revealed on Friday, August 30, that her upcoming film 'Emergency' has not received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to death threats against board members. Despite rumours suggesting otherwise, the film remains stuck with the censor board. Ranaut stated that she and her team are under pressure not to depict certain historical events, including Indira Gandhi's assassination and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

In a video posted on X, Kangana clarified, "There are rumours that our film 'Emergency' has got the censor certificate. It is not true. In fact, our film was cleared but its certification has been stopped because of several threats. The censor board members are also being threatened. We are being pressured not to show Mrs (Indira) Gandhi's assassination, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Punjab riots. I don't know what should we show then. This is unbelievable for me and I'm sorry for the state of things in this country."

Controversy Surrounding 'Emergency'

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sent a legal notice to CBFC on Friday, seeking to halt the release of 'Emergency'. They claim the film could incite communal tensions and spread misinformation. According to SAD, the trailer misrepresents historical facts about the Sikh community and promotes hatred and social discord.

Additionally, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called for a ban on Kangana's directorial venture. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami criticised the film for portraying Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale negatively. Bhindranwale is considered a martyr by Akal Takht Sahib.

Kangana Faces Threats

Kangana's comments came shortly after she received beheading threats from extremist Sikh groups following the release of her movie trailer. A viral video showed an extremist Sikh warning Kangana about depicting Bhindranwale as a terrorist in her film. He referenced Indira Gandhi's assassination by her bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh after Operation Blue Star.

The extremist said in the video, "If he (Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale) is portrayed as a terrorist in the movie, remember what happened to the person (Indira Gandhi) whose movie you are doing and who were Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. We will offer our head to Santji, and those who can offer their head can also chop others off."

Film Details

'Emergency' features an ensemble cast including Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishal Nair, and late actor Satish Kaushik. Kangana portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in this historical drama set to release on September 6.

The controversy surrounding 'Emergency' highlights ongoing tensions regarding historical representation in Indian cinema. As debates continue over its content and potential impact, audiences await further developments on its release status.