Bombay HC allows Hamare Baarah release after changes

The Bombay High Court has allowed the makers of the film Hamare Baarah to release it on Friday once they change certain portions that were allegedly derogatory to Islam and the Muslim community, LiveLaw reported.

A division bench of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla passed the order in a writ petition seeking a ban on the film. “The changes mentioned below shall be done before the film is released,” the court said, according to the report.

The makers reportedly agreed to remove a dialogue and a Quranic verse, and put two disclaimers of 12 seconds each in the film. The makers also reportedly agreed to pay costs of Rs 5 lakh to a charity of the petitioner’s choice.

The court was dealing with a writ petition seeking a ban on the movie, claiming it distorted the Quran and portrayed the Muslim community in a derogatory manner.

The petitioner agreed to not raise any objections to the release after the changes were made.

The petitioner, Azhar Basha Tamboli, alleged that the film violates the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the rules and guidelines associated with it. The petition further claimed that the film is wrongly certified and its release would violate Article 19(2) and Article 25 of the Constitution.

The high court initially postponed the release but allowed it after the filmmakers agreed to remove certain objectionable scenes. However, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the release till the high court made a final decision.

The Central Board of Film Certification agreed to recertify the film based on the changes by June 20.

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