Emergency in ‘Emergency’

Discover the latest buzz surrounding Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency as its release is delayed amid legal wrangling and controversy. Dive into the clash of cinema and history with a touch of humour and wit of the author Somashis Gupta

There we go again Emergency on hold. I can only say here we are again, another historical lesson missed at the cinema, where popcorn and 3D glasses are apparently all we need to fully grasp the complexities of Indian history. I must say, I’m always astonished when I glance around at my fellow countrymen—because why wouldn’t I be? We seem to be a nation that genuinely believes that movies like The Kerala Story or The Kashmir Files are veritable history textbooks, and not, as some might have it, works of fiction. I mean, the last time I checked, history was usually learnt from actual books, not from a screenplay laced with dramatic flair, catchy one-liners, and the occasional slow-motion explosion. But perhaps I’ve missed the memo—history class is clearly now held in multiplexes.

Of course, who am I to judge? It’s only natural when the living room television is larger than the bookshelf in the reading room. Who needs dusty volumes when you’ve got surround sound and CGI to do the heavy lifting?

Now, onto the latest instalment of cinema’s delightful revisionist take on history—Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency. Or, as we might call it for now, “Not Coming to a Cinema Near You… Just Yet.” The release of this biographical political thriller has been pushed back further, but don’t hold your breath. The Bombay High Court has magnanimously directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to make up its mind about the film’s fate by September 25th. And, in true legal fashion, the court clarified that, no, they could not simply order the CBFC to issue the film’s certification, thanks to a conflicting order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. One court says one thing, another says something else—it’s a wonder anything ever gets done, isn’t it?

The crux of the controversy, naturally, lies in the film’s portrayal of the Sikh community. Several Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, have raised objections, claiming the film misrepresents historical facts. Oh, the irony of it all—a film potentially misrepresenting history? Who would’ve thought? Legal proceedings are now in full swing, with the film’s producers probably wishing they’d opted for a safer subject matter, like, I don’t know, the migratory habits of pigeons in Mumbai.

And so, Emergency, produced by Zee Entertainment and starring a glittering cast including Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, Mahima Chaudhry, and Milind Soman, finds itself stuck in limbo. Kangana Ranaut herself takes on the formidable role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, no doubt relishing the chance to channel her inner political powerhouse (Mind you the casting was done much before Kangana was slapped by a CISF personal at the Chandigarh airport). The film, as you might have guessed, is set during the 21-month emergency declared by Mrs. Gandhi between 1975 and 1977—a period still hotly debated in political circles, even if a little fuzzy in the minds of the general public.

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The film was originally slated for release on September 6, but clearly, that date has come and gone with as much fanfare as a soggy firework. Sikh groups aren’t the only ones raising eyebrows, as public debates about the portrayal of historical figures and events in Indian cinema have reignited, fuelled by the controversies surrounding Emergency.

Is it a faithful retelling of history, or just another exercise in artistic license? Only time, and the CBFC, will tell. But until then, we can only sit back, adjust our popcorn, and wait for the next thrilling instalment of “What We’ve Learnt from Movies.” After all, who needs the rigour of textbooks and peer-reviewed articles when you’ve got Bollywood?