Amid Communal Tension Fears K’taka Govt. Halts Screening of Controversial Film ‘Hamare Baarah’

The Karnataka Government has banned the release or broadcast of the film ‘Hamare Baarah’ for two weeks or till the next order, under sections of the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1964, reported ANI.

The Karnataka government claimed that if it is permitted to be released in the state, it may lead to conflict between the communities. After examining the requests from a number of minority organizations and delegations and viewing the trailer, the authorities made this conclusion. 

The trailer of the film suggests that it is yet another attempt to demonize Muslims, Muslim families and especially Muslim men while being a “messiah” for Muslim women.

In the first few seconds of the trailer, a verse from Surah Baqarah (a chapter in the Holy Qur’an) is misquoted by an actor whose character depicts a cleric from the Dawat-e-Islami, an organization of Muslims, associated with the Barelvi school of thought. 

The makers of the film have tried to put the blame of societies on Muslims, which in their opinion is justified by the verse. In the scene, the actor says “aurtain tumhari kheti hen”.

According to the government order, the producer and director have misinterpreted verses of the Quran to make misleading and provocative remarks. The film also had sequences that attempted to provoke one community against the other while depicting another community in an insulting manner, the order adds.

Concerned Islamic Organizations have also shed light on the movie being a conspiracy, which portrays Islam in an “instigative and derogatory manner”.

Others have alleged that the film is an attempt to disturb peace and hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.

“The film also tries to portray men as a demigod, which is clearly against the teachings of Islam, said a Islamic scholar and researcher.

The film, scheduled for nationwide release on June 7, 2024, addresses overpopulation, as a social issue and features Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, and Paritosh Tripathi.

Producers, who have heavily invested in the project, are now facing significant challenges due to the ban.