India’s Karnataka state has banned the release of the film Hamare Baarah starring veteran actor Annu Kapoor, citing the potential for ‘communal tension’.

The decision, made under the Karnataka cinema rules, would prevent the film from being screened in the state for the next two weeks or until further notice.

It was scheduled to be released on June 7 (Friday).

The state government’s decision follows requests from several organizations and a review of the film’s trailer, according to reports from the news agency ANI. The government has claimed that the ban “is necessary to prevent communal tension” in the state.

The movie has faced significant backlash from viewers. Many have alleged that the film’s trailer contains “uncouth, crude, and communal propaganda,” and argued that it could “poison the minds of an entire generation.”

In response to the growing controversy, the film’s trailer has been abruptly pulled down from online platforms, after it was initially released on May 30.

“At a personal and an impersonal level, I’m an atheist,” Kapoor told News18 earlier this week. The veteran actor said that he tried his best to justify his character and shunned criticism of the movie.

“People talk about propaganda all the time. I’m not bothered about it,” Kapoor said and urged people to watch the film first before making opinions.