Kangana Ranaut Emergency: Bhindranwale dialogue, firing scene among 13 cuts by censor board – MASHAHER

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has ordered around 13 cuts to Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency, after issuing the U/A certificate for the film. The new cuts recommended by the board include removal of a few violent scenes and a dialogue by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent name in establishing the Khalistan movement during that time. The decision was made following multiple complaints by several Sikh groups, alleging the film showed the Sikh community in a bad light.

Here’s a list of eight major cuts and changes out of 13 recommended by CBFC:

1. The revising committee has asked the team of Emergency to include a disclaimer that the events of the film are “inspired by true events” or represent a “dramatic transformation” of the events that took place during the emergency period. The board is of the idea that the viewers should keep in mind that everything they are watching is not true and doesn’t reflect the “absolute truth”.
2. The board asked the team to submit historical evidence backing a scene which features Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru mentioning “China had cut off Assam from India”. The scene reportedly features in the beginning of the film and none of the members of the board could vouch for its authenticity.
3. The film features a conversation between Bhindranwale and Sanjay Gandhi in which the former alleged that Gandhi wanted votes while he wanted Khalistan (“Tawadi Party nu vote chaide ne, te sanu chaindayye Khalistan“). The board wants the entire dialogue to be removed from the film, citing that it appeared as if they were talking about managing a deal. The members of the board have also asked the team to provide their source behind curating the scene.
4. At least three scenes referring to Bhindranwale as ‘sant or saint’ have been asked to be removed from the film. One of these scenes features a conversation between Sanjay Gandhi and President Giani Zail Singh, and another shows Indira Gandhi talking to the Army chief.
5. The board has issued a separate suggestion about toning down the level of violence shown in the film. This includes Sikhs inflicting violence on non-Sikhs. In one scene, members of the Sikh community are seen shooting a non-Sikh man in front of a bus. The board has objected to all of them.
6. Another scene that the board has found offensive includes Indira Gandhi in a conversation with the Army chief. The two discuss Operation Bluestar and mention that it was supposed to begin on ‘Arjun Divas’, a day marking the martyrdom anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan. The board asked the makers to remove the reference, citing that the religion doesn’t acknowledge this term.
7. The board has further requested the makers to insert a simple disclaimer wherever they have used real-life footage from the past, to help provide some context to the viewers and not leave their interpretation open-ended.
8. The makers have been asked to submit proof and factual source of every stat, statement and reference they have used in the film.

Zee Entertainment, the production house backing Emergency, has requested time to mull over the recommended changes and cuts. According to the revising committee, while they have issued the certificate already, the changes need to be made at the earliest. The makers will now decide upon either accepting all the changes and move on with the release, challenge the cuts in higher court or try to negotiate the same with the board to achieve common ground.

Neither Kangana nor anyone else from the film’s team has commented on these recommendations yet.