Kangana Ranaut’s much-anticipated political drama Emergency has hit theatres across India, but audiences in Punjab will not be able to watch the film. Theatre owners in the state have collectively decided not to screen the movie despite no official ban imposed by the Punjab administration. This decision stems from ongoing backlash and allegations that the film portrays the Sikh community in a defamatory manner.

On Thursday, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding a state-wide ban on the film. In the letter, Dhami criticized the movie for allegedly distorting historical events and spreading an “anti-Sikh agenda.”

“While lodging its protest, the SGPC has already sent its executive committee resolution to the state chief secretary in which it was clearly stated that the screening of this movie would not be allowed in Punjab because it has been made under a scheme to defame Sikhs,” Dhami stated. The SGPC leader further accused the movie of misrepresenting events related to the 1984 Sikh genocide and attacks on key religious sites, including the Golden Temple and Akal Takht Sahib.

Dhami’s letter cautioned that the release of the movie in Punjab could provoke strong reactions from the Sikh community. “If the movie is released on January 17, it would enrage the Sikh world, which is natural,” he warned, adding that protests might be inevitable if the government fails to act.

Kangana Ranaut has directed and stars in Emergency, a film centered on the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency in India. The film portrays this controversial chapter of Indian history and features prominent historical figures, with Anupam Kher playing Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mahima Chaudhry as Pupul Jayakar, Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, and Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi.

While the Punjab government has yet to officially respond to the SGPC’s demands, the decision by theatre owners to avoid screening the movie reflects the sensitivity surrounding its themes and perceived portrayal of the Sikh community. Ranaut and her team have not issued a public statement addressing the controversy in Punjab.