Reports that the Censor Board Revising Committee has asked makers of 'Udta Punjab' to drop 'Punjab' from the title has sparked outrage on social media! Here's what they have to say...
The makers of Bollywood film "Udta Punjab" are said to have been asked by the Revising Committee of the censor board to remove all references to Punjab -- a decision perhaps taken under pressure from the ruling dispensation in the state which is dealing with a festering problem of drugs.
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Shahid Kapoor in a still from 'Udta Punjab'
"Udta Punjab", a Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh starrer movie, delves into how the youth there have succumbed to drugs.
Earlier, there was buzz that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had refused a release certificate for the Abhishek Chaubey directed movie, but later the makers had clarified that no ban was imposed on it. On Monday, reports emerged that the Revising Committee of the CBFC has asked the makers to make 89 cuts.
Political Angle?
The release of the movie in a year when the state is less than nine months from assembly elections is likely to 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.
It is believed the CBFC's decision is politically motivated, but the Akali Dal never officially sought a ban on "Udta Punjab". Senior leaders in the party were feeling uncomfortable with the way the drug abuse problem of Punjab was being projected and could harm the political interests of the Akalis in assembly polls in February next year.
Twitterati react!
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
Basically Censor Board asked the producer to turn off the location. #UdtaPunjab
— maithun (@Being_Humor) June 6, 2016
#KimJongUn to send top aide to meet #CBFC and learn the art of censorship #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Samir Saran (@samirsaran) June 7, 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
They should release the movie Udta Punjab on Snapchat.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 6, 2016
Udta Punjab is not a film about Milkha Singh - The Flying Sikh?
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) June 6, 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
Censor board team who watched Udta PunjabðÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0098ÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0085 pic.twitter.com/hqDpRQd0Dn
— Mask (@LootPadiHai) June 6, 2016
Remember how Billu Barber became Billu? Now #UdtaPunjab asked to drop Punjab from the title. It's now just #Udta pic.twitter.com/Vs3DpLCT38
— Sarita A Tanwar (@SaritaTanwar) June 7, 2016
Udta Punjab spoilers - the censor board.
— Tanvi (@sinpulsive) June 6, 2016
After 89 cuts by the Censor board, Udta Punjab is now UP.
— Sting Ray (@Purba_Ray) June 6, 2016
Censor board decides that 'Udta Punjab' can't mention the name Punjab. Since the movie is about getting high, call it Udta Pahlaj maybe?
— Mihir Bijur (@MihirBijur) June 6, 2016
Film on drug culture. Censor. Film on homosexuality. Censor. Film on Kashmir. Censor. No wonder we get Housefull sequels #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Sneha Mahale (@randomcards) June 7, 2016
Censor Board wants the makers to remove Punjab from #UdtaPunjab. Bhai aap log ek kaam karo, change your name from Censor Board to Banchod!
— àªàª¾àªµàª¿àª¨ સતરા (@bytesbybhavin) June 6, 2016
What with 89 proposed cuts #UdtaPunjab has becomes #CutTaPunjab
— Medical Macaroni (@dawalelo) June 6, 2016
After so many cuts, they should release #UdtaPunjab on snapchat.
— Apoorv Bafna (@apoorv_bafna) June 6, 2016
With 89 cuts the movie must have become short film. #UdtaPunjab
— Harinderpal Singh (@VirtualSingh) June 6, 2016
Pic 1: Movie before censor cut
— ABHISHEK MAZUMDAR (@BADMASHROMEO) June 6, 2016
Pic 2: Movie after censor cut!#censorboard #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/iNX4vhdwZA
Removing Punjab from Udta Punjab is like removing Titanic from Titanic.
— Gautam (@gautamverma23) June 6, 2016
What Bollywood celebs are saying:
Govt which wants to ban Udta Punjab shud realise that by banning a Udta film they actually trying to ban Udta truth
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 6, 2016
Udta Governments should realise just by using Udta powers, if they try to ban Udta Punjab they can't hide the Udta truth from Udta people
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 6, 2016
Instead of banning Udta Punjab the Punjab Government should ban Udta drugs and if they can't do that they. should ban themselves
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 6, 2016
For what it actually represents Udta Punjab Is diminutive.. A more truthful and righteous title would be Udta India or Udta World
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 5, 2016
#UdtaPunjab speaks of the reality of our times....censoring reality amounts to delusion.....the fraternity has to stand by what's right!!
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) June 6, 2016
Anyone who says that drugs are not a problem in punjab is either unaware,complicit or has malafide intention #UdtaPunjab @_phoenix_fire_ ðÂÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂÂu00c2u0091ÂÂÂu00c2u008dðÂÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂÂu00c2u008f¼
— soha ali khan (@sakpataudi) June 6, 2016
Why not change the name of Udta Punjab to Udta Mazaaq? Because that's what the censor board is doing now, mazaaq udaa rahe hain!
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) June 6, 2016
You may feel it's not fair to remove Punjab from Udta Punjab.
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 6, 2016
But wait till Maneka Gandhi tells to remove Tommy from Tommy Singh.
There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB .. And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016
I request Congress, AAP and other political parties to stay out of my battle. It's my Rights vs the Censorship. I speak only on my behalf
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
It's my fight Vs a dictatorial man sitting there operating like an oligarch in his constituency of censor board, that's my North Korea
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
Rest of you go pick your own fights. I will fight mine.
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
So please don't colour my fight with any political affiliation because there is none.
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
What's your take on the 'Udta Punjab' controversy? Let us know in the comments below!