Kangana Ranauts movie Emergency is making headlines again but not for the reasons the team had hoped for. Originally set to hit theaters on September 6th the film's release has been pushed back again due to not obtaining a censor certificate. Amid this controversy lyricist and screenwriter Manoj Muntashir has voiced his disappointment regarding the film's postponement and the broader topic of censorship.

In a clip circulating on social media and subsequently shared by Kangana Ranaut on her Instagram Muntashir criticized the holdup in granting the censor certificate for Emergency. He alleged that the officials were suppressing freedom of speech by stating, “Why is this certificate game being played half-heartedly? Let’s drop the pretense of respecting freedom of expression if we can’t tolerate even one film.” 

Muntashir tackled the debates related to the Emergency period. He commented on how the assassination of Indira Gandhi was depicted in the portrayal of her Sikh assassins Satwant Singh and Beant Singh and the way Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was characterized. Muntashir expressed, “The problem is that the brutal murder of Indira Gandhi has been shown. So, did Indira ji die in a road accident? Was she not murdered? The problem is that the killers of Indira Gandhi have been shown as Sikhs. Were Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, not Sikhs? The problem is that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has been shown as a terrorist. Was that brute who killed thousands of innocent people not a terrorist?”
In response to assertions that the Sikh community took offense at the movie, Muntashir stated, “I refuse to believe that the Sikhs, who have always stood for the truth, would be scared of the facts shown in a film. Sikhs are a golden page in India’s history. When they come out in saffron turbans, the whole nation respects them.” He also stressed that the Sikh community has never portrayed itself as a victim and raised doubts about how they could perceive a threat in the storyline of the movie.

In the movie, Kangana Ranaut portrays Indira Gandhi and she has also taken on the role of director for Emergency. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring notable actors such as Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade and Mahima Chaudhary. However, it has faced its share of controversies even before its debut.

Muntashir's remarks follow the criticism he received earlier this year for his contributions to the film Adipurush. The movie faced backlash for its dialogues and depiction of mythological characters. While it was anticipated to be a hit at the box office it ended up being a significant failure with many condemning Muntashir for altering aspects of the Ramayana. His treatment of dialogues in Adipurush was seen as disrespectful prompting a widespread social media campaign, against the film.

With the ongoing debate around Emergency, its reception by viewers upon its release remains uncertain. At this moment both Ranaut and Muntashir uphold their support for the film emphasizing its authenticity in depicting historical occurrences.