The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has sent a legal notice to the producers of the film “Emergency,” alleging the movie misrepresents the character and history of the Sikh community. This development is compounded by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a ban on the release of the film, which stars actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut.
“Emergency,” a political drama based on the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is written, directed, and produced by Ranaut. The trailer, released on August 14, 2023, stirred controversy, leading to the SGPC’s notice and the legal challenge against its release. The film is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2023.
Two baptized Sikhs have approached the High Court, claiming that the trailer of “Emergency” portrays historical inaccuracies and promotes hatred towards the Sikh community, potentially damaging the social fabric of Punjab. The petitioners argued that the trailer depicts scenes where people from the Sikh community are shown firing indiscriminately at Hindus, alleging religious discrimination. The petition also claims that the trailer shows “Sant Ji” (Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale) striking a deal with Congress party leaders to secure votes in the General Elections, which the petitioners say lacks historical basis and is an attempt to defame the Sikh community and its institutions.
The petition further states that the trailer deliberately misrepresents the Sikh community’s character and creates an anti-Sikh narrative. The petitioners have sought directives from the court to the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to cancel the film’s certification for public release. They also requested that the Punjab DGP file an FIR under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Cinematograph Act against Ranaut and others associated with the film.
Earlier in the day, SGPC’s legal advisor, advocate Amanbir Singh Siali, issued a legal notice demanding the removal of scenes depicting anti-Sikh sentiments. The notice also called for the withdrawal of the trailer and a written apology to the Sikh community. It cited a dialogue from the trailer, “Tohadi party nu vote chahide ne ate sanu chahida hai Khalistan (Your party needs votes, and what we want is Khalistan),” as a gross misrepresentation, stating that there is no historical evidence of such words being uttered by Bhindranwale or anyone in the Sikh community.
The SGPC’s notice emphasized that the film would serve as a harmful tool, misrepresenting Sikhism’s history and spreading false narratives about Sikhs as separatists. It highlighted that portraying Sikhs as demanding Khalistan is a deliberate character assassination, designed to create an anti-Sikh sentiment.
SGPC Secretary Partap Singh confirmed that the notice was issued under the directive of SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami. Singh stated that the trailer’s release had revealed many scenes that deeply hurt the Sikh community’s sentiments, alleging that the film attempts to depict Sikhs as terrorists and separatists, which he declared unacceptable and far from the truth.
The SGPC and Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, have both called for an immediate ban on the film. Letters have also been sent to the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC Chairperson, urging them to halt the film’s release.
The controversy surrounding “Emergency” highlights the sensitive nature of historical representation in cinema and the potential impact such portrayals can have on community sentiments and social harmony. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the courts and regulatory bodies will respond to the concerns raised by the Sikh community.