CBFC wants 13 cuts from Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency: Sikhs firing on non-Sikhs, Bhindranwale dialogues and more, read

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has recently approved Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, but not without asking for 13 significant cuts. The film, which focuses on historical events during India’s Emergency period in the 1970s, has faced objections from Sikh groups who believe it misrepresents their community and leaders. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes requested by the CBFC to ensure the film can be released in cinemas across India.

Key Changes Requested by CBFC

Disclaimer Addition: The CBFC wants a disclaimer added at the beginning of the film. This disclaimer will inform viewers that the movie is “inspired by true events” and represents a “dramatic transformation” of those events. The aim is to clarify that not everything portrayed is historically accurate.

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Fact-Checking Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Statement: In the first ten minutes, India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru is shown mentioning that China had cut off Assam from India. The CBFC has asked the filmmakers to provide factual evidence for this statement, as committee historians are unsure of its accuracy.

Bhindranwale’s Dialogue: A line attributed to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, where he supposedly says to Sanjay Gandhi, “Your party wants votes, we want Khalistan,” is to be removed. The Board believes this line implies Bhindranwale was negotiating with Gandhi, which needs supporting evidence to remain in the film.

Removal of 'Sant' Title: The film refers to Bhindranwale as “Sant” (or Saint) in multiple scenes. The CBFC has requested that these references be removed, especially in conversations between historical figures where Bhindranwale isn’t present. This change is due to objections from various groups regarding his portrayal.

Toning Down Violence: The Board has specifically asked filmmakers to tone down scenes depicting violence by Sikhs against non-Sikhs. One scene showing Sikhs shooting non-Sikhs in front of a bus is to be cut entirely, as it was deemed objectionable by Sikh organizations.

Operation Bluestar Reference: A discussion between Indira Gandhi and the Army Chief regarding Operation Bluestar includes a mention of "Arjun Divas," a day marking the martyrdom of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. The CBFC has asked for this term to be removed since it does not exist in Sikh tradition.

Static Messages for Real Footage: Whenever real footage is used in the film, the filmmakers are required to insert static messages to provide context for viewers.

Proof of Claims: The CBFC has mandated that the filmmakers submit documentary proof or evidence for all statistics, statements, and references mentioned in the film. This ensures that the claims made are verifiable and accurate.

Next Steps for the Filmmakers

Following the CBFC's requests, the lawyer representing Zee Entertainment, the film's producer, has asked for more time to decide whether to accept all the proposed changes. The filmmakers now have three options:

Accept All Changes: They can choose to implement all the requested modifications to secure the film’s release.

Negotiate Changes: They may opt to accept some changes while contesting others they find unreasonable.

Legal Challenge: Alternatively, they can challenge the CBFC's decision in court, arguing against the required cuts and changes.