MUMBAI: Actor-neta Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming political-drama, Emergency, is drawing quite some heat from Sikh groups across the country. Several Sikh organisations in Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and Punjab have demanded a ban on the film as they feel it misrepresents their community and distorts history.
Kangana plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the film, who had invoked Emergency in the country from June 1975 to March 1977.
The outrage began when the film’s trailer was released recently, which contained some portions that were deemed objectionable by the Sikhs. It contains a part where late Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale says to a political leader, “Your party wants votes, and we want Khalistan.” Sikh groups contend that such a demand was never made by him.
Apart from the Sikh groups, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) joined the call for banning the film. And the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sent a legal notice to the producers of the film, demanding the removal of the objectionable scenes.
Besides, a criminal complaint has been filed against the actor in the Chandigarh District Court alleging she hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. A Public Interest Litigation has also been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking revocation of the movie’s certificate for public release.
The film was scheduled to be released on September 6 but is yet to receive a censor certificate. It is Kangana’s first film since she won a seat from Mandi in the Lok Sabha elections.