Bombay High court clears Annu Kapoor's film 'Hamare Baarah', deems it empowering for women
- In Reports
- 06:15 PM, Jun 19, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Bombay High Court has reviewed the film 'Hamare Baarah', starring Annu Kapoor, and found no objectionable content pertaining to the Quran or the Muslim community.
Additionally, the court remarked that the movie is intended to promote the empowerment of women. It affirmed that the Indian public is discerning and not easily misled.
Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla, sitting as a division bench, acknowledged that the initial trailer of the film was objectionable. However, they noted that all objectionable scenes have been removed from the final version of the movie.
Describing 'Hamare Baarah' as a "thinking movie", the court emphasised that it encourages viewers to think critically rather than passively consuming entertainment.
Highlighting a specific scene in the film, the court pointed out that it portrays a Maulana misinterpreting the Quran, with a Muslim character objecting to this misinterpretation. This depiction, according to the court, underscores the importance of thoughtful consideration over blind adherence to religious authorities.
Several petitions had been filed earlier in the High Court seeking a ban on the movie, alleging that it contained derogatory content against the Muslim community and misrepresented Quranic teachings.
A series of petitions were filed in the High Court earlier this month seeking a ban on the movie, alleging derogatory portrayal of the Muslim community and misrepresentation of Quranic teachings.
Initially, the High Court postponed the movie's release but later allowed it to proceed after the filmmakers assured that objectionable portions had been deleted as per the Central Board for Film Certification's (CBFC) directives.
Subsequently, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court, which last week halted the movie's release and instructed the High Court to review the case and make an appropriate decision.
The court proposed certain changes to a few scenes that it considered potentially objectionable, suggesting that if all parties agreed to these edits, consent terms could be submitted for approval on Wednesday, allowing the movie's release.
However, the bench decided to impose costs on the filmmakers for releasing the trailer before obtaining certification from the censor board. It mandated the costs to be contributed to a charity of the petitioners' choosing, citing the extensive publicity the litigation generated.
"We do not believe the movie contains any content that could provoke violence. If we had such concerns, we would have raised objections ourselves. The Indian public is not naive or easily influenced," the court remarked.
Nevertheless, the bench agreed with the petitioners that the trailer and posters were contentious and cautioned the filmmakers against including dialogue or scenes under the guise of creative freedom that could offend religious sentiments.
"We caution the filmmakers to exercise care in their portrayal. They must refrain from hurting the sentiments of any religion, particularly considering that Islam is the country's second-largest religion," the court stated.
Describing the movie as a narrative about a dominant man and his family, the High Court addressed claims by petitioners that it promotes domestic violence, asserting that such issues are not confined to a single community. Originally scheduled for release on June 7 and subsequently on June 14, the movie's fate now hinges on the resolution of these legal and creative issues.
Image source: First Post
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