The Supreme Court has put a hold on the release of Annu Kapoor’s movie Hamare Baarah, initially slated for a June 14 debut, following allegations that the film contains derogatory content about the Islamic faith and married Muslim women. The decision came after the court reviewed the film’s trailer and found the offensive dialogues still present.
A vacation bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, acknowledged the arguments presented by lawyer Fauzia Shakil, representing petitioner Azhar Basha Tamboli. The bench noted the contentious nature of the dialogues in the trailer and opted to stay the film’s release pending further review by the Bombay High Court.
“We have seen the movie trailer in the morning and all the offensive dialogues continue in the trailer,” the bench observed, emphasizing the need for a more thorough judicial review.
The Supreme Court directed the Bombay High Court to expedite its decision on the plea against the film. The top court’s order also criticized the high court’s previous decision to lift the stay on the movie’s release, calling it an “unreasoned order.” Lawyer Fauzia Shakil argued that the high court’s direction for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to form a review committee was flawed, given the CBFC’s vested interest in the litigation.
The Supreme Court has left all objections open for the parties to present before the Bombay High Court, including issues related to the CBFC’s role in the review process. The film, which has already been banned in Karnataka, will remain on hold until the high court resolves the petition.
Hamare Baarah has sparked controversy due to its portrayal of Islamic practices and Muslim women, leading to widespread criticism and legal challenges. The film’s release was anticipated on June 14, but the Supreme Court’s intervention has delayed its screening indefinitely.
Sources By Agencies
