Court withholds release of Annu Kapoor's 'Hamare Baarah' till June 14

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the makers of the Hindi film 'Hamare Baarah' to defer its release till June 14, 2024. The film was slated for release on June 7.

The film's lead actor, Annu Kapoor, also met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after he allegedly received death threats in phone calls.

Notably, the film is about a man-- Manzoor Ali Khan Sanjari-- who, despite losing his first wife during childbirth, continues to have more children with his second wife, now pregnant with her sixth. When doctors warn that the pregnancy risks her life, Khan refuses an abortion. His daughter Alfiya, determined to save her stepmother, takes her father to court to demand an abortion. The film explores whether Alfiya can convince her father and the court, and questions the entrenched patriarchy in their society.

During the hearing, the petitioner Azhar Tamboli, through advocates Mayur Khandeparkar, Aneesa Cheema and Rekha Musale, sought a stay on the film, saying that it does not just hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community but incorrectly portrays the Quran.

The plea also challenged the certificate given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and sought its revocation, which would mean that the film cannot be screened in public.

Khandeparkar pointed to certain objectionable dialogues in the film, which were also shown in the trailer and promotional videos of the film, and stated that by no stretch of the imagination can the film be given a U/A certificate.

Advocate Advait Sethna appearing for the CBFC, however, pointed out that the film had been seen and some cuts were asked to be done by a Committee of CBFC and only then was the film set for release. He, however, added that while the CBFC has control over films, it does not have any control over trailers and promotional videos.

Sethna submitted that the film producers would have to be called upon to withdraw trailers and that appropriate action could be taken against the film-makers after an appropriate hearing is given.

After hearing all sides, the bench directed that further hearing was needed on the issue and thus adjourned the hearing on June 10 while giving liberty to the film producers as well as petitioners to mention the plea in case of any further difficulty.