Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming political drama, Emergency, has been stirring controversy ever since its announcement. As per the latest development, the movie, set to release on January 17, has been banned in Bangladesh due to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Kangana plays late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the movie, which explores the turbulent period when Emergency was declared in India in 1975, as seen through Gandhi’s eyes.
Giving details about the ban, a source told Indian Today, “The decision to halt the screening of Emergency in Bangladesh is tied to the current strained relations between India and Bangladesh. The ban is less about the content of the film and more about the ongoing political dynamics between the two nations.”
Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as Prime Minister of Bangladesh last year during massive anti-government protests, her seeking asylum in India and attacks on Hindus in the Muslim-majority country led to the increasingly strained ties between the two nations.
Another factor that may have led to the ban on Emergency in Bangladesh is how the film showcases the Indian Army’s and Indira Gandhi’s government support for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and their role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The film also depicts the brutal assassination of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by Bangladeshi extremists.