The biographical drama Emergency, which depicts the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency period of 1975-77, has been embroiled in controversy for some time. Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, have accused the film, starring and directed by Kangana Ranaut , of misrepresenting their community and distorting historical facts. However, the High Court made it clear that these concerns do not justify stalling the film's certification.
In a major victory for artistic expression, the Bombay High Court on Thursday firmly stated that creative freedom and the right to free speech cannot be curtailed due to mere apprehensions of public disorder. As per PTI, The Bombay High Court on Thursday said creative freedom and the freedom of expression cannot be curtailed and the censor board cannot refuse to certify a film just because there is an apprehension of a law and order problem. A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla expressed its displeasure with the Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC ) for not taking a decision on the issuance of a certificate to the same, and ordered for the decision to be taken by September 25.
It asked if the CBFC thinks the people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie. On the petitioner's claim that the CBFC was delaying issuance of certificate to the movie due to political reasons, the HC noted the film's co-producer Ranaut was herself a sittin.