LONDON: Protests by British Sikhs have forced cinemas in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and west London to cancel screenings of the movie “Emergency”, starring Kangana Ranaut as former PM Indira Gandhi.
Further protests were planned at cinemas across the UK over the weekend as those protesting described the movie as “anti-Sikh Indian state propaganda”.
The film, produced by Zee Studios, was pulled from Birmingham Star City Vue, Hounslow and Feltham Cineworlds on Friday, and from Wolverhampton Cineworld on Saturday.
It was still scheduled to be screened at 17 Cineworld cinemas and 31 other Vue cinemas.
In a statement Sikh Press Association said: “The film is viewed as anti-Sikh Indian state propaganda for its depiction of ex-PM Indira Gandhi’s role in the Sikh genocide. She was the PM who initiated the #SikhGenocide before her assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. The film is released at a time where Sikh censorship and anti-Sikh propaganda are strongly pushed by India. Yet a film biopic on Revered Shaheed (martyr) Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed the genocide as it continued into the 90s, has faced severe restrictions in its release.”
A video on Instagram shows the manager of the Birmingham Star City on Friday surrounded by a group of Sikh men dressed in black before he agrees to cancel the flick.
Sher-e-Panjab put on Instagram on Saturday: “Today, our sevadar received a phone call from the general manager at Vue Cinema Star City confirming that Emergency has been permanently removed from their schedule. This sends a clear message to India that propaganda through the arts will not be tolerated or accepted in Birmingham. We encourage Sikhs in their respective areas to take similar steps and ensure such screenings are stopped. “
The British Board of Film Classification gave permission for the film to be shown with a 15 rating.
Birmingham-based entrepreneur Bobby Singh wrote on Instagram: “The film in question is seen as detrimental to the Sikh community, promoting a negative and inaccurate portrayal of Sikhs while encouraging divisive sentiments and racism.”
The Hindi-language biographical historical drama film, directed by Ranaut, has opened in India to mixed reactions.
“No one should have any right to stop any film being released. How can you stop something you have not seen. At the end of the day it is a film,” a UK film distributor told TOI.
