Bhopal: The upcoming Bollywood film 'Haq', starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam, is embroiled in controversy just before its scheduled release. The dispute intensified after the film's teaser was unveiled, as the movie is reportedly inspired by the famous 1985 Shah Bano Begum Case.
Shah Bano's daughter, Siddiqui Begum Khan, has filed a petition in the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, demanding a stay on the film's release. The High Court heard the petition on Tuesday but has reserved its order, leaving the film's fate uncertain.
Unauthorised Use of Identity: Siddiqui Begum Khan alleges that the film uses her late mother's identity without the family's permission.
She claims that certain dialogues in the film's teaser and trailer are derogatory and damage her mother's image.
The petitioner argues that the filmmakers have deliberately presented Shah Bano's identity in a controversial manner, which is morally wrong and disrespects the dignity of the deceased.
The production company, Junglee Pictures, presented its arguments in court: : They stated that 'Haq' is a completely dramatised and fictionalised adaptation, a work of creative liberty, and not a biopic of Shah Bano.
Character Name Change: They pointed out that the character based on Shah Bano is named 'Shazia Bano' in the film, not Shah Bano.
Positive Portrayal: The company asserted that Shah Bano and her struggles are not shown negatively but are presented as a source of inspiration.
Legal Objection Raised: They questioned whether the right to privacy continues after a person's death and argued that the petitioner should have first appealed to the Central Government under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, instead of directly approaching the court.
The film 'Haq' is scheduled for release on November 7. The movie marks the first collaboration between Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam.
The controversy surrounding 'Haq' has reignited discussions not only in the film industry but also among social circles, as the Shah Bano Case is a landmark judgment in Indian judicial history concerning the rights of Muslim women and maintenance after divorce. All eyes are now on the High Court's impending decision on whether the film will be allowed to hit the screens on its fixed date.
Shah Bano, a resident of Indore, was divorced by her husband, Mohammad Ahmed Khan, in 1975 when she was 59 years old, leaving her and her five children to fend for themselves. She sought monthly maintenance, but her husband, who pronounced triple talaq (Talaq-e-biddat), refused to provide any financial support. Her legal battle for maintenance under Indian secular law culminated in a landmark 1985 Supreme Court judgment that affirmed her right to maintenance, a verdict that spurred a massive national debate on the rights of Muslim women and the intersection of religious and secular laws.
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get premium and selected news of The Mooknayak on WhatsApp. Click here to join the WhatsApp group.