The controversial film ‘Emergency’ starring Kangana Ranaut has recently sparked significant outrage among the Sikh community. This political drama, set against the period of the 1975 Emergency in India, has faced severe backlash from the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). These prominent Sikh bodies have called for an immediate ban on the film, claiming it aims to “character assassinate” Sikhs.
Kangana Ranaut, who also directs the film, features as India’s former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. The film features an ensemble cast including Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. The storyline delves into the political upheavals of the Emergency era, showcasing young Indira Gandhi’s relationship with her father, the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the challenges she faced throughout her political career.
In a press conference, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami described the film as an attempt to malign the image of Sikhs. He also called for the filing of an FIR against Kangana Ranaut. Gyani Raghbir Singh, the Jathedar (head) of the Akal Takht, vehemently condemned the film, stating that excerpts suggest it misrepresents Sikhs as separatists, which he believes is part of a larger conspiracy. Singh further accused the film of fostering an anti-Sikh narrative, particularly around the martyrs of the June 1984 events.
“The community can never forget the anti-Sikh brutality of June 1984,” Singh stated. According to him, Ranaut’s film attempts to malign the character of Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, who is regarded as a Qaumi Shaheed (community martyr) by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Dhami accused Ranaut, known for her controversial statements regarding Sikhs and Punjab, of purposefully “character assassinating” the Sikh community. He further alleged that the government has been shielding Ranaut rather than taking action against her.
. According to Dhami, Ranaut has persistently made remarks provoking Sikh sentiments, adding to a long list of grievances. He urged authorities to book the Lok Sabha MP for inciting religious sentiments through the film ‘Emergency’.
Dhami warned that the film could incite “a lot of anger and resentment in the Sikh community,” and pointed out past incidents where Sikh sentiments were hurt by the misrepresentation of Sikh characters and a disregard for religious concerns in films.
The SGPC chief called upon the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting to enforce an immediate ban on ‘Emergency’. He also emphasized that measures should be taken to ensure no films offending Sikh sentiments are released in the future. Dhami further demanded the inclusion of Sikh members in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), criticizing the current board for making biased decisions due to the absence of Sikh representation.
Despite several resolutions passed by the SGPC demanding the inclusion of a Sikh representative in the CBFC, Dhami lamented that the government has yet to fulfill this requirement. He underscored that these steps are crucial to preventing such offensive content from reaching the public.
‘Emergency’, set to release worldwide on September 6, 2024, explores a highly debated chapter in Indian democracy’s history. However, the film’s portrayal and narrative have ignited a fierce debate and calls for regulatory action from influential Sikh organizations. The tension surrounding the film highlights the broader issue of sensitivity towards religious and cultural sentiments in Indian cinema.
With inputs from PTI, this situation is likely to evolve as the release date approaches, and it remains to be seen how the government and film industry will respond to the demands of the Sikh community. The calls for a ban signify the community’s deep-seated concerns regarding representation and respect for religious sentiments in mainstream media.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
(With inputs from PTI)
