Universal Appeal: Annu Kapoor on ‘Hamare Baarah’

The Bombay High Court has cleared the way for the release of “Hamare Baarah” after the filmmakers agreed to make certain modifications. Actor Annu Kapoor expressed his delight over the resolution of the issues surrounding the film. Speaking at a press conference, Kapoor extended his congratulations to the film’s producers—Ravi S Gupta, Birender Bhagat, Sanjay Nagpal, Sheo Balak Singh, and director Kamal Chandra. He humbly stated, “I have no contribution in this. If needed, we will make a film on the porn industry.”

Addressing the question of the film’s audience, Kapoor emphasized its universal appeal, stating, “We will make a universal film. We will make a film for everyone.”

Director Kamal Chandra used the platform to advocate for population control legislation, stating, “The government should come and make a population control bill. It should be implemented that it is important.”

Earlier, the Bombay High Court reviewed the film and noted that it contained nothing objectionable against the Muslim community. However, it did suggest alterations to certain scenes. The petitioners, who had initially filed to stop the film’s release, agreed to withdraw their opposition once the necessary changes were made.

The film faced legal challenges when a petition was filed alleging that the trailer insulted Islamic beliefs. The Supreme Court intervened, staying the film’s release and directing the Bombay High Court to address the petition. Upon review, the High Court concluded that the objectionable content had been removed, and it approved the film’s release.

Fazrul Rehman Sheikh, the advocate for the petitioners, conveyed to the media that the court found the film to deliver a positive social message. “The stay had been imposed on the film ‘Hamare Baarah’ because of the controversial dialogues in the film. The judges of the HC watched the film after which, they were of the opinion that the film gives a good social message and it is not what it has been projected as…”

The High Court criticized the trailer’s offensive nature and emphasized the need for filmmakers to be mindful of the content they release to the public. The court remarked, “It was wrong to comment without watching the movie. You are commenting by looking at the poster.”

Further highlighting the disparity between the trailer and the film’s actual content, the court advised caution to filmmakers regarding religious sensitivities. The film’s producer, Virender Bhagat, assured the removal of the contentious trailer. “The misunderstanding has been resolved. The judges watched the film and said that it is about women empowerment. The offensive trailer has been removed,” Bhagat confirmed in an interview with ANI.

Jointly produced by Birender Bhagat, Ravi S Gupta, Sanjay Nagpal, and Sheo Balak Singh, “Hamare Baarah” is directed by Kamal Chandra. The film features Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, and Paritosh Tripathi in key roles, promising a strong narrative with a universal message.