Chandigarh, 17 January 2025: Statewide protests on Friday disrupted the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency in Punjab as political and religious leaders raised concerns over its portrayal of sensitive historical events and alleged distortion of facts.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) stated their opposition stemmed from the film’s depiction of Sikh history and the events of 1984, which they claimed were presented in a “distorted” manner.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also criticized the film, accusing it of prioritizing entertainment over historical accuracy.
Speaking to ANI, Warring remarked, “Whenever such films are made, the facts are twisted because they need ‘masala’ to succeed. This is not right, as such movies harm the country’s brotherhood by presenting scripted, untrue stories. Governments and censor boards must monitor such projects.”
Farmers’ groups, including members from Sindhupur, held demonstrations outside cinemas in Zirakpur’s Dhillon Plaza and Cosmo Plaza.
They accused Kangana Ranaut of using “vulgar language” against farmers during the recent protests. Similar demonstrations occurred in Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Jalandhar.
The protests follow the film’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi’s controversial imposition of the Emergency, a period that remains politically and socially divisive.
