Apart from citing the Udta Punjab controversy, the petition has referred to other controversies the Censor Board (Central Board of Film Certification) has witnessed during Nihalani’s tenure.
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The Bombay High Court had last week slammed the CBFC for unjust censorship and said the body was meant to certify films and not censor them.
Sources close to the censors report that it political pressure has led to the fracas.
Many known celebrities from the entertainment industry have come out in strong support of the film while demanding the removal of CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani. “When I took my film to them for certification, they just asked me to cut one particular scene where a young boy snorts drug”, Baljeet told IANS.
The HC had on Friday said that the makers of “Udta Punjab” should tone down expletives and vulgar scenes as these alone can not make a film work.
Mumbai: “Udta Punjab” censorship row has earned CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani the monikar of “Ladta Pahlaj” in the latest ad of Amul Co-operative Ltd, which is known for its amusing takes on topical issues.
“We are objecting to the reference of Punjab and its people and the language used in the film”, the lawyer argued. Though “Udta Punjab” has had troubles with the censor board, there has not yet been any confirmation regarding any delay in its release date of June 17.
The Abhishek Chaubey-directed “Udta Punjab”, starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena, deals with the issue of drugs abuse in the state of Punjab.
“They (CBFC) are restricting them”.
“But I can understand being a producer and a director because the release was to happen on Friday but according to the rules, if they don’t get a certificate by tomorrow or day after tomorrow, then they won’t be able to release the film”, he added.
“I think it’s a fabricated controversy going around the film and they (makers of “Udta Punjab”) are being misguided by some agency”.
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Baljeet has also made a decision to file a defamation case against Shahid, Anurag and Ekta.
