Censorship in Bollywood has long been a contentious issue, with filmmakers frequently grappling with regulatory bodies to preserve their creative visions. The release of Kangana Ranaut ’s latest film, Emergency, offers a fresh lens to examine the intersection of cinema, politics, and censorship in India. This film, which delves into the controversial period of the Emergency in India (1975-1977) under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi , has found itself mired in controversy and bureaucratic hurdles, with the Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC ), sparking a renewed debate on freedom of expression in the world’s largest democracy.
Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' In Jeopardy; Censor Board Refuses Certification Emergency is a historical drama that centers around one of the most tumultuous periods in Indian history. In June 1975, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency across the country, citing internal disturbances. This period, which lasted until March 1977, was marked by widespread censorship of the press, suspension of civil liberties, mass arrests of political opponents, and forced sterilizations.
The film, directed and produced by Kangana Ranaut, who also plays the role of Indira Gandhi, aims to provide a dramatic recounting of these events, exploring both the political landscape and the personal life of the Prime Minister during that era. Given the subject matter, Emergency was always poised to face scrutiny. India’s political past, especia.