The Bollywood movie explores the notorious drug trade in the northern Indian state of Punjab bordering Pakistan and faced the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the ruling government objected to the portrayal of the state.
Unofficially, the board had asked the film's producers to make as many as 89 cuts and remove all references to Punjab except for the title perhaps. The bordering state is known for its notorious drug-related problems and the militants, who recently launched an attack on Pathankot airbase, are thought be involved in the drug smuggling ring.
Yet, the movie, which is slated to be released on June 17, has stoked controversy largely because Punjab faces elections in the coming months. Every political party has made curbing drugs as their flagship in each respective campaigns.
In May, Udta Punjab was denied approval by CBFC's first review board, to which producers subsequently appealed. Nonetheless, it was the second review board which suggested the cuts.
The demands made by the CBFC infuriated the film's producer, Anurag Kashyap, to the extent that he compared India to North Korea. The film-makers are likely to approach the Bombay High Court over the matter.
I always wondered what it felt like to live in North Korea.. Ab to plane pakadney ki bhi zaroorat nahin..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016
#AnuragKashyap appeals PM @narendramodi for #UdtaPunjabCensored pic.twitter.com/WCCaF0XUIL
— BombayTimes (@bombaytimes) June 7, 2016
Also, this is not the first time the CBFC has run into serious trouble over their excessive use of power. Soon after Pahlaj Nihalani took over as the chief of the board, several film-makers and artists voiced serious concerns over the integrity of the board.
Here is a compilation of a long list of tweets which decimate the board.
#KimJongUn to send top aide to meet #CBFC and learn the art of censorship #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Samir Saran (@samirsaran) June 7, 2016
They're Perfectly Fine With A State Getting Ruined By Drugs Misuse & Mafia,What Baffles Them Is A Movie Made On It.Sigh! #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) June 6, 2016
Censor Board wants Punjab removed from Udta Punjab.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 6, 2016
Thank God these guys weren't around when Bombay to Goa was released.
Pic 1: When a movie goes to censor board
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) June 6, 2016
Pic 2: When the movie comes out after several cuts by censor board pic.twitter.com/6ocjUz6Hrh
Censor board team who watched Udta Punjab😅 pic.twitter.com/hqDpRQd0Dn
— Mask (@LootPadiHai) June 6, 2016
After 50 cuts & change in name Udta Punjab will be left with a National Anthem, documentary of gutkha Mukesh, a sanskrit shloka & 'The End'
— Ra_Bies (@Ra_Bies) June 6, 2016
There is no drug problem in Punjab, you can easily avail them from medical stores, peddlers and even from police stations. No problem at all
— Rofl Gan*** (@RoflGandhi_) June 6, 2016
After 80-90 cuts in Udta Punjab, director must also change the face of Shahid Kapur to Alok Nath. #SanskariCensorBoard #मा_दी
— Bad Company. (@RowdyTalks) June 7, 2016
Remove Punjab from Udta Punjab. Yeah, then nobody will come to know which state is shown in the film. Genius!
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) June 6, 2016
