Bombay HC Gives Green Light to ‘Hamare Baarah,’ Finds Nothing Anti-Muslim

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday cleared the release of Annu Kapoor’s film “Hamare Baarah,” stating that it found nothing objectionable against the Quran or the Muslim community. The court emphasized that the movie promotes the upliftment of women and should not incite violence.

A division bench of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla reviewed the film and noted that while its first trailer was objectionable, it has since been removed and all contentious scenes have been deleted. The court described the film as a “thinking movie” meant to engage the audience intellectually rather than a mindless entertainment piece.

The court highlighted a scene where a Maulana misinterprets the Quran, countered by a Muslim character, encouraging viewers to think critically and not follow such leaders blindly. The film faced several petitions demanding a ban, alleging it distorted the Quran and was derogatory towards Muslims.

Initially, the high court delayed the film’s release but later allowed it after the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) directed the removal of objectionable content.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the high court reassessed the movie and found no reason to ban it, although it suggested further tweaks. If all parties agree to these changes, the court will permit the film’s release.

The court, however, imposed a penalty on the filmmakers for releasing the trailer without CBFC certification, directing them to pay a charity chosen by the petitioners. It also cautioned filmmakers against including content that could hurt religious sentiments, acknowledging the significance of the Muslim community in India.

The bench remarked that domestic violence, depicted in the film, is not confined to any one community and criticized the petitioners for their objections without having seen the movie.

Originally slated for release on June 7, then June 14, “Hamare Baarah” awaits its final approval following these court-directed adjustments.