The film “Udta Punjab” was handed down 89 cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and its makers have appealed in the Film Certificate Appelate Tribunal (FCAT). If Udta Punjab movie gets 94 cuts, we wonder what else is left worth watching in the film! The lawyer also gave example of films “Delhi Belly”, “Bandit Queen”, “Gangs of Wasseypur”, which were passed by the board.
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The court was hearing a petition filed by Phantom Films, the producer of Udta Punjab, against an order of the revising committee of the CBFC which suggested 13 changes comprising over 90 cuts in the movie.
During the hearing, the court questioned the CBFC why it was suggesting 13 cuts that take away the essence of the film.
The director, 81, said much of the debate over the movie was sparked because people think the film is against the state of Punjab. “And even if my role is a special one in the film if we actors don’t do these kinds of films, the message (about drug menace) will never be out”.
The producers of the film claimed that the report of the review panel was provided to them only after they approached the Bombay High Court.
Meanwhile, the censor board told the court that some of the scenes recommended for deletion in the Hindi movie “Udta Punjab” were “very vulgar”.
Simultaneously, it asked the makers of the film to tone down the expletives and certain vulgar scenes to which the CBFC has objected as these alone can not guarantee the film’s success.
CBFC has also objected on abusive words in the film, which includes, k*tti’ (bi***), chitta ve (a slang for drugs) and har**mi (bas****).
Justice Dharmadhikari compared “Udta Punjab” with another film released earlier titled “Go, Goa, Gone” and said in that movie the state of Goa was shown as a place where people go to socialise in parties and also take banned drugs.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, “Udta Punjab” stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor-Khan and Diljit Dosanjh.
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“Absolutely not. I am not under any political pressure”, Nihalani said when asked whether he acted under the pressure of Punjab government. He said Punjab is on off limits.
