The release of the Bollywood film Hamare Baarah has been put on hold by the Supreme Court of India. The court intervened on Thursday after a petition challenged the Bombay High Court’s decision to allow the movie’s release.
Supreme Court halts release of Annu Kapoor starrer Hamare Baarah: “If the teaser is so offensive, then what about the whole movie”
According to Bar and Bench, the controversy surrounding Hamare Baarah centers on allegations that the film portrays Muslim women in a derogatory light and misinterprets a verse from the Quran. The petitioner, Azhar Basha Tamboli, argued that the movie violates the rights enshrined in Articles 19(2) and 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to practice religion, respectively.
The Bombay High Court’s handling of the case has been marked by inconsistency. Initially, on June 5, 2024, the court placed a restraining order on the film’s release until June 14. This decision was based on concerns raised by the petitioner. Subsequently, the court directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to form a committee, including a Muslim member, to review the movie.
However, the High Court then reversed its stance and allowed the release after the filmmakers agreed to remove certain dialogues deemed objectionable. This move came despite the committee seeking additional time to submit its final comments.
The Supreme Court, upon hearing the petitioner’s appeal challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision, expressed reservations about the film’s content based on the teaser itself. The court noted that despite the filmmakers’ claims of removing offensive scenes, the teaser still contained problematic content.
Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, presiding over the case, highlighted the apparent contradiction, “If the teaser is so offensive, then what about the whole movie… Prima facie it seems you have failed since you yourself deleted the scenes from the teaser.”
The Supreme Court ultimately stayed the release of Hamare Baarah and requested the Bombay High Court to expedite its decision on the petition challenging the CBFC’s certification. This implies that the High Court will need to re-evaluate the film and determine whether its content aligns with the established guidelines and respects religious sensitivities.
The core issues at stake in the Hamare Baarah controversy are twofold. Firstly, the film is accused of misrepresenting Muslim women and portraying them as lacking agency. This raises concerns about fair and accurate representation of religious communities within Indian cinema. Secondly, the alleged misinterpretation of a Quranic verse highlights the potential dangers of portraying religious texts without proper understanding. Such misinterpretations can inflame religious tensions and create social discord.
Starring Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, and Paritosh Tripathi, Hamare Baarah is set in Uttar Pradesh, and delves into the implications of population growth, examining its societal, economic, and cultural impacts.
Jointly produced by Ravi S Gupta, Birender Bhagat, Sanjay Nagpal, and Sheo Balak Singh, with Trilok Nath Prasad as Co-producer, Kamal Chandra as director and Ajendra Ajay as creative director, Hamare Baarah features a screenplay penned by Rajan Agarwal.
ALSO READ: Hamare Baarah makers change release date after clearing legal hurdle; Annu Kapoor starrer to hit theaters on June 14
More Pages: Hamare Baarah Box Office Collection
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