Connect with us
Saturday,03-May-2025
Breaking News

Bollywood

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency Release Update: Bombay HC Asks CBFC To Take A Decision By September 25

Published

on

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency Release Update: Bombay HC Asks CBFC To Take A Decision By September 25

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (September 19) expressed displeasure over the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sitting “over the fence” in issuing certification to the Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Emergency” and asked the censor board to take a decision by September 25.

Noting that creative freedom and freedom of expression cannot be curtailed, the court said that the censor board cannot refuse to certify a film just over the apprehension of law and order problems. It questioned whether the CBFC thought that people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises seeking direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film “Emergency”.

“You (CBFC) have to take a decision one way or the other. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness. We don’t want the CBFC to sit on the fence,” a bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said.

The movie was slated to release on September 6. However, the release was delayed following opposition by Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal accusing that the movie was misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong. The HC, on September 4, refused to grant urgent relief and directed the CBFC to consider the objections by the Sikh community and then issue certification by September 18.

CBFC counsel Abhinav Chandrachud informed the bench that the board’s chairman has referred the movie to the revising committee for final decision. He added that there was an element of apprehension of public disorder.

However, Zee’s counsel, Venkatesh Dhond contended that this was done to ensure that the movie is not released before October, when the elections are to be held in Haryana.

Irked by the fact that the CBFC had failed to comply with its earlier order and simply passed the buck from one department to another, the HC said that the censor board cannot conclude that there would be a law and order problem and hence refuse to certify the movie. “This has to stop. Otherwise we are completely curtailing creative freedom and freedom of expression by doing all this… Does the CBFC think the public in this country are so naïve and stupid to believe everything they see in films? What about creative freedom?” the bench asked.

The judges wondered why people had become sensitive to what was being shown in movies. “We don’t see why people are so sensitive. My community is made fun of all the time in movies. We don’t say anything. We just laugh and move on,” Justice Colabawalla said on a lighter note.

Dhond submitted that the movie’s release was being delayed due to political reasons. Questioning the political angle, the bench asked if the petitioner claimed that the ruling party was against Ranaut, who is not just the co-producer of the movie but also a sitting BJP Member of Parliament.

However, Dhond said that the ruling party was willing to displease a sitting parliamentarian just to appease a particular section of society.

The HC has asked the CBFC to take a decision by September 25 and communicate the same to the filmmakers.

Bollywood

Maharashtra Day: Sonali Kulkarni opens about her Konkan hiking trail achievement

Published

on

Mumbai, May 1: Actress Sonali Kulkarni, who has been appointed as a brand ambassador of Maharashtra’s Public Service Commission, is celebrating Maharashtra Day on Thursday.

The actress is deeply in love with the state, which accounts for the highest GSDP in the country.

She revealed that she has completed the Konkan trail on foot taking inspiration from her father, who is an avid hiker.

The actress works across Marathi and Hindi cinema, and has been given the honour alongside music composer Shankar Mahadevan.

Speaking on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, the actress told Media, “May 1 holds a special place in my heart. It marks both Maharashtra Day and International Labour Day. I deeply value every individual who contributes through their work, whether it’s a makeup artist, someone from the production team, or support staff. I respect and appreciate the effort and time each person puts in. I consider myself a worker too, both at home and in my field. I’m not shy of doing any kind of work, and I take pride in every person who brings their labour and talent to the table.”

The actress called Maharashtra, a diverse land of artists and sportspersons, as she said, “In our national pledge, we say ‘sampanna aur vividhta se bhara desh’ and Maharashtra reflects that beautifully. We have exceptional writers, sportspersons, actors, and artists in the Marathi industry. Our language is rich and musical; it carries a unique rhythm, a ‘naad’ of its own. I speak fairly good Marathi and deeply love our traditions and cultural landscape. Maharashtra is a treasure trove of art and heritage. It’s my dream to take my family to all the forts I’ve visited.”

She further mentioned, “My father, an avid hiker, has explored every fort in the state. We’ve completed the entire Konkan walking path. My mother, a Warkari, once walked from Anandi to Pandharpur — a tradition I dream of following someday. I love our music, our deities, and our folk culture. I feel truly blessed — by default — to be born in Maharashtra.”

Sonali was feted as the brand ambassador of Maharashtra’s Public Service Commission with greetings from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Sujata Saunik and Ashish Shelar.

“It makes me feel very proud. Shankar Mahadevan ji and I will be the faces for this initiative. In the Ramayana, there was a small squirrel who helped Ram and his army to build the bridge to Lanka. She was tiny but did her bit. I feel equally responsible and powerful to be the messenger of the government for the public. As an actor, I believe it is my duty to support and contribute positively to the efforts of the government wherever I can,” she added.

Continue Reading

Bollywood

Indian cinemas biggest stars rally behind WAVES 2025 event in Mumbai

Published

on

Mumbai, April 19: The who’s who of the Indian film industry are set to attend the WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit) in Mumbai.

On Saturday, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Railways of India took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a promotional video featuring the biggest stars of Indian cinema including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Vikrant Massey and Nagarjuna.

In the video, the actors talk about the upcoming event, and also reveal that the conversation will be taken forward by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

It’s also revealed in the video that the event will see thought leaders from the entertainment industry, and pioneers across the industries lending their inputs to the event.

The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is a global platform that unites pioneers, visionaries, and aspiring creatives from the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.

The event is organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Create in India Challenge, and is poised to be a groundbreaking forum for discussions, collaborations, and transformative innovations.

It is sponsored by Netflix and orchestrated by Reskilll, and is set to redefine the future of storytelling, filmmaking, and digital content creation.

Waves Summit 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary. With over 3,000 applications, only the top 600 candidates were meticulously selected and trained, ensuring a pool of highly skilled and passionate participants. The ‘Trailer Making Competition’, the event’s crown jewel, saw an overwhelming 134 entries, showcasing an array of creative talents eager to make their mark in the industry.

The event has seen over 3,000 applications, of which top 600 candidates have been selected and trained, ensuring a pool of highly skilled and passionate participants. The event is set to be held in Mumbai from May 1 to May 4 in the BKC area of Mumbai.

Continue Reading

Bollywood

A.R. Rahman reveals how news about his personal life affects his mental state

Published

on

Mumbai, April 17: Music maestro A.R. Rahman, currently preparing for his ambitious “Wonderment” tour, has admitted that news and rumours about him do take a toll on his mental well-being. In an exclusive conversation with Media, A.R. Rahman opened up about his preparation for the ‘Wonderment’ tour, the use of AI in music, his mental state, and much more.

When asked, “Music requires a happy state of mind, do news and rumours about you that circulate everywhere affect you?”

Rahman replied, “I think every artist goes through this. Sometimes they are in a very, very sad state, and they have to do ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ or ‘Hamma Hamma’. You can’t say I’m not in the mood. They will go to somebody else. Sometimes you are very happy, and they want you to do the saddest song. You should be ready for it. In music, you have to be in a very neutral condition. You are almost like an actor. You are sad inside but you have to play happy.”

When further inquired , “But as an artist and as a human being, does it really affect you when you read so much about yourself.” Opening about it Rahman quipped, ‘It does, It does affect but it’s part of the game. The ups and downs.”

For the unversed, A.R. Rahman’s wife announced her divorce with him in the month of November 2024. Soon a social media post went viral accusing Rahman of having an extra-marital affair with one of his band members which led Rahman to issue a statement. He also announced to take a legal action against those spreading defamatory news about him.

Further during the conversation, A.R. also spoke about his health and shared a message with his fans stating “Thank you for all the love. Sorry to have scared you. The hospital gave something which went viral. I am here healthy with all your prayers and love. See you on the 3rd at D.Y. Patil stadium.”

In the month of March, A.R. Rahman was admitted to the hospital in Chennai due to chest pain.

Continue Reading

Trending