Bombay HC signals green to ‘anti-Muslim’ film ‘Hamare Baarah’
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The Bombay High Court granted permission for the release of the controversial film "Hamare Baarah" after a series of legal battles and heated debates surrounding its content. Directed by Kamal Chandra, the film had faced severe scrutiny for allegedly containing anti-Muslim sentiments.
The court's decision followed extensive deliberations between the film's producers and petitioners who accused it of derogatory portrayals of the Islamic faith and married Muslim women in India.
Initially slated for release on June 7, the film's fate was put on hold by a High Court ruling that extended the ban till June 14, pending further review. The Supreme Court also intervened, imposing a stay until the Bombay High Court delivered its final verdict on the matter.
During today's hearing, a division bench comprising Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla suggested several amendments to the film, which both parties eventually agreed to.
The filmmakers consented to removing a contentious dialogue and a verse from the Quran, which had sparked outrage among Muslim communities. Additionally, they agreed to insert two 12-second disclaimers and pledged to donate Rs 5 lakh to a charity recommended by the petitioners, as part of the court's conditions for approval.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) also played a pivotal role in the resolution, agreeing to re-examine and re-certify the film based on the revised version that incorporates the court-mandated changes.
The legal battle began when multiple petitions, including one from various Muslim organizations, were filed alleging that "Hamare Baarah" could incite communal tension and portray Muslims in a derogatory and provocative manner. The Karnataka government had earlier intervened, imposing a temporary ban on the film's release, citing concerns over potential communal unrest.
The Bombay High Court had expressed concerns over the content of the film, finding merit in the petitioner's arguments about its potentially offensive nature. However, after reviewing the amended version and considering the agreements reached between the parties involved, the court deemed it appropriate to allow the film's release under the new conditions.