Kangana Ranaut's much-awaited film Emergency, which chronicles the life of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, will not be released in Bangladesh due to rising political tensions between the two nations. The movie, poised to attract considerable attention, will now miss out on a key South Asian market as a result of these strained relations.
The film, which delves into the politically turbulent period of India's 1975 Emergency under Gandhi's leadership, has become a point of contention, amplifying geopolitical conflicts. As it portrays a pivotal chapter in India's history, it has stirred controversy, especially with the deteriorating diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh.
This ban underscores the intricate relationship between politics and entertainment, limiting the film's reach in the region.
A source close to the matter revealed, “The decision to halt the screening of ‘Emergency’ in Bangladesh is tied to the current strained relations between India and Bangladesh. The ban is less about the content of the film and more about the ongoing political dynamics between the two nations."
Indira Gandhi played a crucial role in Bangladesh's liberation from Pakistan, despite pressure from the United States to stay out of the conflict. She believed that rather than absorbing millions of refugees, India would be economically better off confronting Pakistan directly, which led to the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.
As the USA threatened India with a naval offensive by deploying aircraft carriers in the Bay of Bengal, India received crucial support from the USSR, which deployed nuclear-armed submarines and warships. This strengthened relationship between India and the USSR continued even after the latter's collapse, with Russia emerging as a dominant power in the Eastern bloc.
‘Emergency’ sheds light on the role of the Indian Army and Indira Gandhi’s government during the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence. It also emphasizes the support extended to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarded as the Father of Bangladesh, who referred to Indira Gandhi as Goddess Durga.
The film also depicts the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by Bangladeshi extremists, an event that is believed to have contributed to the ban of the film in Bangladesh.
India engaged in a two-front war against West Pakistan and what was then East Pakistan, which later gained independence and became Bangladesh.
In the present day, Bangladesh was once considered India's only ally in the subcontinent. However, following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the relationship between the two countries has significantly shifted. India now faces growing tensions with neighboring countries, including China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, resulting in a more challenging geopolitical environment.
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