The director talks to BT about the changes he had to make in his film, following the order of the Delhi High Court
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; August 15, 2019)

The Delhi High Court has given its nod to the release of director Nikkhil Advani’s Batla House. As scheduled, the film will keep its date with the audience, today. A couple of days ago, the High Court had asked the filmmaker to make a few changes in the movie, which is based on the controversial Batla House encounter that took place in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar in 2008.

The court order was made in the wake of a plea to stay its release by Ariz Khan, who is facing trial in the Batla House encounter case, and Shahzad Ahmed, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court (his appeal is pending in the high court). The duo said that the claim that the film is inspired by true events, will create an impression that it’s a true account of the encounter, and will thus prejudicially affect their trial.

Talking to BT, Nikkhil says, “The film has got clearance, but at what cost? I have had to beep out a few words and add a disclaimer in the court scene. The edits I have been asked to make in the film are heartbreaking.”

He adds, “The film will release as scheduled, but will hit a couple of centres only in the late afternoon.”

Nikkhil says that he has relied on facts available in the public domain while making the film. He shares, “If the petitioners feel that the film could impact/prejudice their case/appeal in the court, everything available in the public domain needs to be erased, too. Legally, we had the right to make a film. Fortunately, the special number in the film, O Saki Saki, and the creative liberty I took while shooting the action sequence in a grand manner, came to my rescue as they lend a certain degree of fiction to the narrative. It’s ironic, as I had a purist approach towards the film and wanted it to be as real as possible.”

The director has always maintained that he has made the film with an unbiased approach, and has weaved in all the perspectives. Will the said changes impact the narrative? “I hope not,” he replies.