Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (SADA) workers raise slogans in protest against the release of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ outside a cinema complex in Amritsar on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Narinder Nanu/AFP) | Photo courtesy: Narinder Nanu
Kangana Ranaut’s emergency The film was not screened in most theaters in Punjab on Friday following protests against the film by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh organisations.
SGPC and several Sikh organizations protested against the film outside theaters and malls at several places in Punjab.
Ranaut, who has directed, written and produced the political drama, has condemned SGPC’s demand for a ban. emergency And said that the banned screening of the film in some parts of Punjab is a complete oppression of “art and artistes”.
The film, in which Ranaut plays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, focuses on the 21 months of Emergency from 1975 to 1977. The film, which has been mired in controversy over its censor certificate and allegations of misrepresenting the Sikh community, was released across the country on Friday after several delays.
Most of the theaters in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda did not show the film. Police forces have been deployed outside malls and theaters in the state.
For example, in Amritsar, protesters, including women, were seen carrying black flags and placards that read, “Emergency should be banned” and boycott the film Emergency.
SGPC’s Pratap Singh told PTI, “We spoke to the central government and the Punjab government to stop the release of the film, but no action was taken…” He said they gathered to stop the release. Were because the film was made. Disturb the peace of Punjab.
“Sikh characters have been portrayed in an objectionable manner,” he said.
Kulwant Singh Manan, another SGPC member, said, “Ranaut is an MP from BJP and the responsibility of an MP is important. She should work to bring everyone together in the society, but instead, she is creating division. ..”
A similar scene was seen in Mohali.
SGPC member Rajinder Singh Tohra said, “This film has been made to insult the entire Sikh community. We will not allow the film to be released in Mohali or anywhere in Punjab. SGPC is united in this matter.”
Members of a Sikh organization in Jalandhar said that they would not allow this film to be screened anywhere in Punjab.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivam Aggarwal said that in Ludhiana, the film was to be screened in four theatres.
However, after receiving objections from some Sikh organisations, the cinema owners decided not to screen the film, he said.
In Hoshiarpur, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) workers visited various theaters in the district and urged their management not to screen the film.
On Thursday, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding a ban on the film.
Ranaut, BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, responded to the call for a ban on “Emergency” in a post on X.
“This is complete oppression of art and artist, reports are coming from many cities from Punjab that these people are not allowing the exhibits due to emergency.
She said, “I have utmost respect for all religions and having studied and grown up in Chandigarh, I have closely observed and followed Sikhism. This is an attempt to malign my image and harm my film #Emergency. It’s complete lies and propaganda.”
The 38-year-old actor-director was reacting to a post by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who had supported the call for a ban. emergency,
Khaira said Ranaut is a well-known critic of “farmers and Sikhs without knowing their contribution towards our country”.
He said, “SGPC is our elected representative body and @BhagwantMann should take immediate steps to ban the film which portrays Sikhs in a bad light and defames our state of Punjab and its people.”
The SGPC has also submitted a memorandum to all the Deputy Commissioners of Punjab demanding a ban on the film in the state.
In August last year, the SGPC had sent a legal notice to the makers of the film, alleging that it had “misrepresented” the character and history of the Sikhs, and was expected to depict “anti-Sikh” sentiments. Asked to remove objectionable scenes.
published – January 17, 2025 03:54 PM IST
