The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday (June 8), that they had granted “A” certificate to the drug-themed movie “Udta Punjab” after ordering some cuts.
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After hearing the case and questioning the recommendations of the Censor Board, the court made a decision to give the filmmakers another day to make their case, adjourning the hearing to this afternoon.
The high court judge has asked the censor board to merely certify the film as the Cinematograph Act does not grant them the power to censor it.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court, which is hearing the petition filed by one of the film producers of the movie, will pronounce the judgment on Monday.
It had yesterday asked why such a “hue and cry” had been made over the movie by the board. Is it really necessary for a creative person to rely on expletives.
Court said, Multiplex audience are mature enough.
Anurag Kashyap’s Phantom Pictures and Balaji Motion Pictures have co-produced Abhishek Choubey’s Udta Punjab.
Sethna further argued that the word “kanjar” showed the state in a poor light as Punjab was a highly productive state.
Aggrieved by the order of the revising committee of the board that suggested changes in the film before its scheduled release on June 17, the makers had moved the HC. The movie highlights the drug menace in Punjab.
Apart from the censor board controversy, “Udta Punjab” has been in the news for its interesting star cast of Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh.
The CBFC lawyer justified the cuts asked to make in the film saying that there were no delay on its part and that it was proper and within the framework of the guidelines. “I wiash the makers of the film all the good wishes that they get justice in the tribunal”.
Disapproving of the CBFC’s direction to delete and cut references to “Punjab” in the film, the judges said “from every dialogue and scene of the film if reference to Punjab will have to be deleted then the crux of the film will be lost”.
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To the claim of Censor Board that the film “glorifies” drugs consumption, the bench said, “If the film glorifies drugs consumption, why are you (Censor Board) suggesting some deletions, why don’t you pull down the entire movie?” The revising Committee thinks that the film is defamatory to Punjab and therefore, the name from the title should be dropped off.
