The Censor Board's Revising Committee on Friday told the producers of Udta Punjab that they cannot have a reference of Punjab in the film, other than in its title.
Additionally, the Board recommended 89 cuts in the film, including scenes that show substance abuse and use of expletives. It also said the film shouldn't make any political references.
The producers of the film are now planning to move Bombay High Court against the verdict of the Revising Committee, Scroll.inreported.
What has put the makers in a tough spot is the fact that the Board hasn't given anything in writing to the producers, Phantom and Balaji Motion Pictures. This effectively prevents the producers from approaching FCAT, the next leg in the censorship process.
Seemingly, it also appears to be a tactic by the Board to pressurise the makers into giving into the cuts as the release date of the film, June 17, approaches. However, like HuffPost reported earlier, both Phantom and Balaji have taken a joint decision to fight it out till the end, even if it means delaying the film's release.
In a telephonic conversation with HuffPost India, Anurag Kashyap confirmed that they hadn't received anything in writing after the RC screening, "The rule is that you can only go to the FCAT if you have a grievance, but for that you need them to come to a decision."
An angry Kashayp then compared the current state-of-affairs with that of North Korea, a country with a totalitarian regime.
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
Joseph Ka Mukadama was a Hindi play adaptation of which famous Czech novel?? We are back there 😳
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016
Following the news of Udta Punjab's censorship, CBFC Board member Ashoke Pandit also criticised Pahlaj Nihalani and co. in a series of tweets.
Which means if I have to make a film on my genocide & ethnic cleansing, I can't use the word #Kashmir? A dangerous trend. #UdtaPunjab#CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 6, 2016
I as a filmmaker & a citizen of this country condemn d act of asking the producers 2 remove d word 'Punjab' from the film #UdtaPunjab. #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 6, 2016
I question the intelligence of the committee which has given this judgement of removing the word 'Punjab' from #UdtaPunjab. #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 6, 2016
Tomorrow if I have to make a film on Maoists,I can't use the word #Assam.Sad.#UdtaPunjab
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 6, 2016
If the trailer of #UdtaPunjab with #Punjab was allowed then why not the film with the same title.#JustAsking#CBFC.
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 6, 2016
Despite multiple attempts made by HuffPost, the film's director Abhishek Chaubey remained unavailable for comment.
(With inputs from Suprateek Chatterjee)
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