Kangana Ranaut’s emergency ban in Bangladesh amid strained relations: Sources
Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, which was released in India on January 17, has been banned in Bangladesh. The ban is related to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries rather than the film’s content.
Actress-politician Kangana Ranaut’s much-awaited political drama, Emergency, has been banned from releasing in Bangladesh amid strained relations between the two countries, sources told India Today TV.
The film, which is based on the turbulent period of emergency declared in India by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, has found itself at the center of a diplomatic standoff.
A source said, “The decision to stop the screening of Emergency in Bangladesh is linked to the existing 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 countries. “
The Emergency highlights the role of the Indian Army and Indira Gandhi’s government in the 1971 liberation war and the support given to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is known as the Father of Bangladesh and who addressed Indira Gandhi as Goddess Durga.
The film also depicts the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at the hands of Bangladeshi extremists – factors believed to have led to the film being banned in Bangladesh.
Emergency, which will be released across theaters across India over three days, has garnered intense buzz for its bold portrayal of a crucial moment in Indian history. However, the ban on the film in Bangladesh highlights a growing trend where cultural exchange is becoming increasingly influenced by the political climate.
Relations between India and Bangladesh deteriorated after Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power during massive anti-government protests last year and attacks on Hindus in the Muslim-majority country. Dhaka is also demanding Hasina’s extradition from India, where she fled after her ouster in August, and New Delhi has extended her visa despite pressure from the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.
This development comes at a time when the screening of Indian films in Bangladesh has seen significant disruption, largely due to the ups and downs in relations.
Emergency is not the first film to face a ban in Bangladesh. Films like Pushpa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 have also been stopped from releasing in the neighboring country.
