Amritsar, 18 January 2025: Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency has drawn sharp criticism from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh organizations across Punjab, sparking widespread protests.
Accusing the film of misrepresenting the Sikh community and distorting historical events, the SGPC has demanded its ban.
The film, set during the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977 under then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has been under fire since the teaser released on August 14, 2024.
The controversy centers on the depiction of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the former Damdami Taksal chief and a figure revered by Sikhs as a martyr.
In the movie’s trailer, Bhindranwale is portrayed collaborating with Indira Gandhi, allegedly promising political support in exchange for a separate Sikh state.
SGPC members called the portrayal offensive and factually incorrect, raising concerns about its potential to damage the community’s reputation.
“This narrative is baseless. Bhindranwale wasn’t involved in negotiations for political gains or separatist talks.
He consistently advocated for greater state autonomy,” said SGPC’s Dharam Parchar Committee member Ajaib Singh Abhiyasi. He also noted Bhindranwale became Taksal’s chief only in 1977, two years after the Emergency ended.
Ajaib Singh questioned the filmmakers’ motives for excluding the peaceful protests led by Punjab leaders during the Emergency. “Prominent Akali leaders like Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra protested non-violently and courted arrest. Instead, the movie attempts to tarnish Sikhs by portraying them as peace disruptors,” he said.
The SGPC issued a legal notice to the filmmakers on August 28, 2024, demanding the removal of objectionable content. A resolution calling for a ban was also passed during the SGPC’s executive and general house meeting on September 28, 2024.
Despite reports of cuts before the movie’s release, Ajaib Singh said the SGPC received no confirmation about whether the contested sequences were removed.
“No Sikh representative was consulted during the censoring process, and we remain in the dark about the final version of the film,” he added.
The SGPC had earlier written to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw and Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi, urging them to address the issue. The movie’s original release date, September 6, 2024, was deferred following the protests.
Ajaib Singh maintained the controversy was not just about cinematic liberties but about the integrity of Sikh history. “Such distorted portrayals have real-world consequences and risk tarnishing the Sikh community’s image globally,” he said.
