Masked Khalistani activists disrupted a screening of Kangana Ranaut‘s ‘Emergency’ at the Harrow Vue cinema on Sunday night, leaving members of the Indian diaspora in fear. The protesters, shouting anti-India slogans and distributing pamphlets about the Sikh genocide, forced the cinema to cancel the screening.
Saloni Belaid, a British Indian who attended the screening with friends, described the scene as chaotic. “Masked individuals stormed in, shouting ‘Down with India.’ They bypassed staff without tickets and began handing out flyers. Many in the audience fled in fear, but my friends and I chose to confront them,” she recounted. Despite the police arriving promptly, no arrests were made, as the authorities upheld the protesters’ right to demonstrate, provided no harm was caused.
Cinema staff were visibly shaken, with the manager deciding to halt the screening despite requests from some audience members to continue. “The staff seemed scared, and the situation was tense,” Belaid added.
Jasveer Singh of the Sikh Press Association, which supports the protests, claimed that the film ‘Emergency’ is “anti-Sikh Indian state propaganda.” Similar protests have led to canceled screenings in multiple UK cities, with British Sikh groups alleging the movie portrays Sikhs negatively.
Released on January 17, 2025, ‘Emergency’ depicts the controversial period of the Indian Emergency (1975-1977) under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. While Kangana Ranaut’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi has been widely praised, critics have described the film’s storytelling as chaotic. The movie attempts to provide a nuanced view of Gandhi’s complex political legacy, touching on themes of power, resilience, and moral dilemmas.
The ongoing protests have added a contentious layer to the film’s reception, sparking debates about freedom of expression, historical representation, and the role of cinema in exploring sensitive topics.
