Manoj Muntashir on Emergency Row: 'Are We Supposed to Believe Indira Gandhi Died in Road Accident...'

The controversy surrounding Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency continues to intensify, resulting in the film’s postponement from its original September 6 release date. The delay comes as the film is still awaiting certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film has been embroiled in a heated debate, with various Sikh groups protesting its portrayal of historical events and figures.

Recently, Kangana Ranaut shared a video on Instagram featuring the film’s lyricist, Manoj Muntashir, addressing the ongoing controversy. In the video, Muntashir defends the film’s content and appeals to the Sikh community to view the film in its entirety before passing judgment. He argues that the film’s depiction of Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the portrayal of her assassins as Sikhs should be viewed within the historical context, and not as an attack on the Sikh community. Muntashir emphasises that the film is a product of the collective effort of over 500 crew members and should be assessed fairly.

“The issue is that the film shows the brutal assassination of Indira Gandhi. Are we supposed to believe she died in a road accident?” Muntashir asserts. He challenges the notion that depicting historical figures as they were is disrespectful, questioning why the Sikh community would be afraid of the film’s portrayal.

“I refuse to believe that Sikhs, who stand fearlessly for the truth with the chant of ‘Ek Onkar Satnam,’ are afraid of what a film shows,” he added.

In addition to the public outcry, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to Kangana Ranaut, the Centre, and the CBFC in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the film. The PIL argues that Emergency contains scenes that infringe on the fundamental rights of Sikhs and demands an unconditional apology from Ranaut and other involved parties, along with damages to a Sikh charitable organization.

This controversy around Emergency is not an isolated case in Bollywood. The film joins a list of recent Hindi films that have stirred significant debates and backlash. From The Kashmir Files to The Kerala Story, these films have faced scrutiny for their portrayal of sensitive subjects, highlighting the fine line filmmakers walk when addressing historical and political themes.