“Hamare Baarah” Film Release Controversy
BACKGROUND
The controversy surrounding the film “Hamare Baarah” arose when Azhar Basha Tamboli filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on the movie. The petitioner claimed that the film portrayed Islam and Muslims in a derogatory manner, distorted the Quran, and was in complete contravention of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, as well as the associated rules and guidelines. The film, originally scheduled for release on June 7, 2024, and later postponed to June 14, 2024, faced significant legal hurdles due to these allegations. The Petitioner invoked Articles 19(2) and 25 claiming that the film’s content could incite hatred and disrupt public order and infringe the religious rights of the Muslim community by distorting religious texts and potentially inciting religious disharmony. The Bombay High Court initially postponed the release of “Hamare Baarah” to address the concerns raised by the petitioner. The case was further complicated when the petitioners approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the film’s release pending a final decision by the High Court.
UPDATE
The Bombay High court on Wednesday allowed the release of the film on 21 June 2024 after the filmmakers agreed Removal of a Dialogue and a Quranic Verse, addition of 2 disclaimers each lasting 12 seconds and payment of Rs. 5 lakhs to a charity of the petitioner’s choice as a gesture of goodwill. The court has also ordered the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to recertify the film based on the agreed changes by June 20, 2024.This compromise ensures that the filmmakers can proceed with their release schedule without any further objections raised by the petitioner thereby preventing potential public discord and maintaining harmony.
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Written by – PRATYASA MISHRA