The Karnataka government has imposed a ban on the release and broadcast of the Bollywood movie ‘Hamare Bara’ for a duration of two weeks or until further notice. The reason behind this decision is the concern that the film’s release could potentially incite communal tensions in Karnataka.
The ban was implemented by the Congress government in the state, in accordance with the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Act of 1964. The decision was made after reviewing the film’s trailer, which features actors Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, Parthosh Tripathi, and Parth Samtan. The government took into consideration the requests made by various minority organizations and delegations.
It is worth noting that the legal issues surrounding the film are not limited to Karnataka alone. The objectionable content in the film’s teaser had previously attracted the attention of the Bombay High Court. Just two days before its scheduled release on June 7, the court had issued a stay order until June 14, following a petition filed by activists from religious communities who challenged the film’s release.
However, during a hearing on Thursday evening, the Bombay High Court lifted the ban on the movie ‘Hamare Bara’. The court instructed that the film be watched, a report be submitted, and a three-member committee be formed, including at least one Muslim member. The committee is expected to submit its report by 9 am today. The committee emphasized the importance of focusing solely on the film’s premise and the claims made in the petition.
The film is set to be released in theaters on June 7, with the first show scheduled for 10:00 am. According to court documents, certain dialogues have been removed from the film, and the film’s certification process has been scrutinized, as reported by news agency ANI.
Even before its release, ‘Hamare Bara’ has been a topic of discussion due to its narrative on overpopulation. The film’s title itself underwent changes, as it was initially named ‘Hum Do Hamare Barah’ but had to be altered to ‘Hamare Barah’ as per the instructions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film was originally planned to hit the big screen on June 7.
In response to the controversies surrounding the film, actor Manoj Joshi expressed his views to ANI, emphasizing that the film does not target any particular religion. He stated, “As an artist, I want to clarify that this film is not intended to offend any religion.” Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of respecting women in our country, highlighting that the movie focuses on education, child rearing, career, respect, and empowerment of women. Manoj Joshi encourages everyone to watch this movie with their families.
“Humare Bara,” directed by Kamal Chandra, is produced by Birender Bhagat, Ravi S Gupta, Sanjay Nagpal, and Sheo Balak Singh under the banner of Radhika G Film & NewTech Media Entertainment.
