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'Udta Punjab' Makers Move Bombay HC Against Censor Board

'Udta Punjab' Makers Have Moved Bombay High Court Against The Censor Board
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The makers of the upcoming drama Udta Punjab, which is in the centre of a swirling controversy with the Central Board Of Film Certification over its depiction of the drug problem in the state, have moved Bombay High Court.

Filmmakers move Bombay High Court against CBFC over ‘Udta Punjab’ controversy #UdtaPolitics

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 8, 2016

The upcoming film's release date of June 17 seems to be in jeopardy owing to the fact that they don't have a censor certificate yet. According to reports, the Board's Revising Committee has asked for a staggering 89 cuts in the film (many of them pertain to abusive language and drug use) and asked to drop references to 'Punjab' in the film.

In an interview with Economic Times, CBFC Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani asserted that the film "cannot be cleared the way it is" because it shows the entire state and its people "in a bad light" — it violates the section of the Cinematograph Act He further said: "There is no pressure on us. They can go to the tribunal or court now. Our only concern is the entire movie is completely based on Punjab. All the characters are negative. It will hurt the whole community."

However, the makers of the film — Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures Pvt Ltd and Phantom Films, run by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Vikas Bahl, as well as producer Madhu Mantena — claim that they haven't received anything in writing from the RC specifically, which they can use as a 'grievance' and take it to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, a statutory body that resolves disputes between filmmakers and the Board. Sources close to the makers say that this is a way for the CBFC to stall the release of the film so that the makers get disheartened and accept the RC's decision.

In light of this, the decision to approach Bombay HC to resolve this dispute makes sense. According to a Mumbai Mirror report, despite Nihalani's own son Chirag (he is a creative producer at Balaji) requesting his father to release the letter demanding the cuts, the CBFC has been holding back, leading to delays that are costing the production house roughly Rs 1 crore a day.

Udta Punjab, directed by Abhishek Chaubey, stars Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Diljit Dosanjh.

Also see on HuffPost:

6 Times Anushka Sharma Nailed It While Speaking About Censorship
(01 of06)
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Yeah… because ultimately you are making a film which is an honest rendition of something that exists in our society, and there is no glorification of anything that can be objectionable.
On being asked whether the censor troubles that NH10 went through worried her, as one of the producers of the film. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(02 of06)
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There is rage. And that is the other thing. Our rage doesn’t unleash itself because we follow the system – judiciary, police etc. So our rage is directed at the systems that don’t work. We all talk about freedom of speech and having opinions. But what is happening is that there is moral policing and people saying that I am so convinced about my opinion that I will be pissed off if you don’t agree with me. That is why we are talking about bans, and taking out material from films.
On why she thinks 'moral policing' occurs in India (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(03 of06)
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I just think there is just complete lack of compassion. When you make a film and you are told to reduce the violence. What is happening in real life is much more brutal. What we are making is much milder, and then you tell us to reduce by 30 percent? What does that mean? How do you do that?
On how she feels about the Censor Board's approach to cuts. (credit:AP)
(04 of06)
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Now I know when we are reading a script or making a movie, we are going to think “Is this going to get passed?” And that’s not how you want to make movies.
On how she feels rigid censorship will affect cinema (credit:STR/AFP/Getty Images)
(05 of06)
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We are breeding a 'ban mentality'. You are irritating people to the degree that it's suffocating them. We are educated people, we know what's right and what's not. Let us think for ourselves than follow a particular ideology.
When asked to describe the current climate of censorship in India (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(06 of06)
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Believe in the certification. It's there for a reason. Films depict what's there in reality.
On how she would like audiences to approach movies (credit:BCCL)

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-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.