Actor Anupam Kher has extended his support to the makers of ‘Udta Punjab’ and has said the censor board’s involvement in the controversy surrounding the film is shocking.
“Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC’s) role in ‘Udta Punjab’ controversy is most shocking. Cinema is a reflection of society. Sometimes a portrayal can help bring a change,” Anupam tweeted on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has rapped the CBFC for insisting on censoring films instead of certifying them. The court asked the censor board why it was requesting ‘cuts’ and not banning ‘Udta Punjab’ if the movie is indeed glorying the use of drugs.
The CBFC told the court that some of the scenes recommended for deletion in the film were very vulgar and the lyrics used in the songs were offensive.
Citing examples, CBFC lawyer Advait Sethna said one dialogue, “zameen banjar toh aulad kanjar”, was abusive and the word “kanjar” was used in an objectionable manner.
To this, the court pointed out that films do not run on such content and there must be a storyline and the modern audiences were mature enough.
Sethna further argued that the word “kanjar” showed the state in a poor light as Punjab was a highly productive state. He added that a dog in the film was named ‘Jackie Chan’.
Among the scenes the CBFC wants to be cut is one showing Shahid Kapoor urinating publicly during a song sequence. This the film makers said, they don’t mind removing.
The censor board also objected to the usage of the word ‘cock’ in the film. To which the judge said “Audiences are direct and open today. People born after 1980 are very mature. So why are you worried? For action to be taken you need to provoke. Multiplex audiences are discerning. How can you decide which word’s right/wrong? If you ask for so many cuts why is the point? Audience knows.”
The court will deliver its final verdict on Monday.
The film stars Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh. It’s scheduled to release in theatres on 17th June.
@neerja:
The same Delhi (which gave 7 seats to modi in parliamentary election) gave 67/70 seats to Kejriwal after nine months, despite modi’s many relentless rallies. Hence, if you guys can bash Kejriwal WTH we can’t even criticise modiji???
What??? “Modi hasn’t even spoken about him till date”! Really!!!! Then who calls Kejriwal ‘AK 49’, ‘Jungli’ ‘bhagoda’ and many others Bullshits??? You don’t even know ABC of your idol. Should I need post the YouTube links???
Yes, Kejriwal talks about him Twitter and other platforms. Toh phir wo kounsa doodh ka dhoola hain! Wo bhi toh din bhar Sonia-Rahul ko gaali deke (though they deserve) apni politics chamkata hain! Then what’s the difference between Kejriwal & modi (in this matter)???
Modiji is also promised to do something different (just like Kejriwal). Look at his a few major promises…. ASSCHE din, bring black money within 100 days and distribute 15-20 lakh per Indian, create 2cr job per annum, Pakistan ko Dhul chatana/sabak sikhana, remove article 380, add POK to India, bring back Daud to India, cheap petrol-diesel and many others. Atleast Kejriwal has fulfilled two biggest promises- free water & SASTI electricity to some extent.. Name a single big promise which modiji has fulfilled yet. Then I will turn myself to a Bhakt…!!!