On Thursday, the Supreme Court halted the screening of the Bollywood movie ‘Hamare Baarah’ until the Bombay High Court adjudicates the pending petition challenging its release.
A vacation bench of the apex court presided over by Justice Vikram Nath, urged the high court to expedite the decision on the plea challenging the certification given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The bench dismissed the filmmakers’ claim that they had removed objectionable parts from the teaser.
The controversy surrounding the film intensified after the Bombay High Court, in an order dated 7 June, lifted an interim stay on its release.
This decision came subsequent to a special panel appointed by the CBFC, following the High Court’s directives, requesting additional time to provide an unbiased assessment of the film.
Addressing the matter, a bench comprising Justices Kamal Khata and Rajesh S Patil of the Bombay High Court noted that the filmmakers had voluntarily agreed to omit certain contentious dialogues.
‘Hamare Baarah’ has also faced resistance on other fronts.
Last week, the Karnataka government took a decisive step by prohibiting the film’s release in the state, citing concerns about its potential to disrupt communal harmony.
The legal battles and regulatory interventions surrounding ‘Hamare Baarah’ underscore the complexities involved in the intersection of artistic expression and regulatory oversight within the Indian film industry.
The film’s fate now hangs in the balance pending further judicial deliberations by the Bombay High Court.
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