The Bombay High Court on Wednesday permitted the release of the controversial film “Hamare Baarah” after its makers agreed to delete objectionable portions, according to a report by Live Law.
The division bench, comprising Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla, passed the order allowing the film’s release a day after they determined that it does not offend the religious sentiments of the Muslim community or distort the teachings of the Quran. The court observed that the film, which has sparked widespread discussion due to its narrative on overpopulation, is actually aimed at the upliftment of women.
The movie, starring Annu Kapoor, faced controversy following the release of its first trailer, which the court also found objectionable. After reviewing the complete film, the bench noted that all such objectionable scenes had been removed.
“The movie is in fact for the upliftment of women. The movie has a Maulana misinterpreting the Quran and in fact, one Muslim man objects to the same in the scene. So this shows that people should apply their mind and not blindly follow such Maulanas,” the high court stated.
Furthermore, the court observed that imposing a ₹5 lakh fine on the filmmakers for releasing the trailer with uncertified scenes would be appropriate. The court directed that this amount be donated to a charity of the petitioner’s choice.
“Violation was their vis-a-vis the trailer. So, you will have to pay something towards charity of the petitioner’s choice. Cost will have to be paid. This litigation has got the film so much unpaid publicity,” the court remarked.
“Hamare Baarah” was initially scheduled for release on June 7, later postponed to June 14. However, the new release date has not yet been announced.
The film’s controversy and subsequent clearance highlight the ongoing tensions between creative expression and societal sensitivities in Indian cinema. As the film industry continues to navigate these challenges, “Hamare Baarah” stands as a notable case of judicial intervention shaping the final product presented to the audience.