CBFC asks the makers of ‘Udta Punjab’ to remove references to Punjab

Abhishek Chaubey’s ‘Udta Punjab’ is about drug abuse in Punjab. Earlier, it was said that CBFC has decided not to certify the film. But, now the Revising Committee has asked the makers of the film to remove all references to Punjab. Well, it is said that this decision has been apparently taken under pressure from the ruling dispensation in the state.

‘Udta Punjab’ is releasing at a time when the state is less than nine months away from assembly elections and the film might be seen as politically disastrous for the state’s ruling party, the Shrimoni Akali Dal which is a partner with the ruling-National Democratic Alliance at the centre.

A source close to the developments told IANS that the CBFC’s primary demand is to remove all the references to Punjab, but they are still waiting to know the number of cuts as an official letter is yet to come.

The source said, “We haven’t received a letter yet. We don’t know how many cuts, but we can tell you that their basic demand is that any reference of Punjab should be deleted from the movie… Which then means a lot of cuts.”

“They want the film to be set in a fictitious space and not Punjab. Makers are not going to adhere to it. They will protest. If that means going to a higher tribunal, we will go. Otherwise, we will go to the court,” added the source.

Well, the decision of CBFC is apparently politically motivated, but the Akali Dal never officially wanted a ban on the film. Senior leaders of the party told IANS in Chandigarh that the party was feeling uncomfortable with the way the drug abuse has been shown in the film and could harm the political welfares of the Akalis in assembly polls in February 2017.

Currently, the makers are not planning to change the release date of the movie. The source stated, “We are planning to host a screening for the cast and crew here on Monday.”

The movie which starts Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh releases on June 17.

Also Read: ‘Udta Punjab’ should be named ‘Udta India’: Ram Gopal Varma

Murtuza Iqbal

‘Eat Sleep Bollywood Repeat’ is his life Mantra. Dance is his first love and Rani Mukerji is his eternal crush. He is someone who loves being himself, and as for the ones who don’t agree, his reply? “Talk to my hand!”