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Udta Punjab running in local cinemas despite filmmaker’s displeasure

Udta Punjab running in local cinemas despite filmmaker’s displeasure

Director Abhishek Chaubey is against the 100 cuts in his film
Updated 25 Jun, 2016

After a 100 cuts, Pakistan Censor Board has finally let Udta Punjab hit screens in Pakistan, against the wishes of the director.

In an interview with Times of India director Abhishek Chaubey said, "It definitely means loss of revenue if the film is not released in Pakistan. But more than that... it would make no sense to release it with the said cuts. The film is intended to convey something and make a point.”

Filmmakers of Udta Punjab fought tooth and nail to release the film in India without any cuts, taking the matter to court. However, since they cannot fight their case in Pakistan, they have decided against the film’s release here.

“There is no scope to fight our case in Pakistan. So, we decided not to release the film there,” he added.

Strangely enough, the film hit local cinemas on 24th June and shows will be on for the next couple of days.

The director explains that the language used in the film is essential to the reality they tried to create.

"There was a bigger message that we wanted to convey with the movie and that was against drug peddling and drug abuse. The film had to reflect reality," he said.

Comments

Pk Jun 25, 2016 05:20pm
Well,need to see the reality of everday life. Film is very good and must watch
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Satish Kumar Dogra Jun 25, 2016 06:18pm
One doesn't know about drug-abuse. But the film certainly is full of abuses. The Director seems to know nothing else. It is sad that Pakistan did not allow Neerja and has allowed Udata Punjab.
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Thoughtful Jun 25, 2016 07:53pm
Reality is unacceptable in Pakistan.
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SRK Jun 25, 2016 08:27pm
Dear Film Maker, do not worry. Your original film will be watched on pirated copies in full - no editing at all. Only 1% of the people watch the movie in a hall. Others get it for free from the local cable or pirated DVDs or internet. So 99% of the audience here will see the full uncensored film - your film's artistic message will be conveyed as desired by you. No money for you though ;)
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SRK Jun 25, 2016 08:30pm
@Satish Kumar Dogra : Neerja shows the 'good' side of Indian folks - so we cannot allow it. Udta Punjab shows the bad ugly side of modern India- so we show it. We have to ensure that we always harp on the ills of the Indian society - that way we feel better about our own!
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Jehan Zeb Mir, M.D., USA Jun 25, 2016 09:25pm
Regarding the language, watch 1985 movie 'My Beautiful Laundrette' starring Saeed Jaffery and 18 year old Daniel-Day Lewis who won Academy Award for playing Lincoln. Saeed Jaffery freely uses such language . These Censor Boards have to just catch up with the rest of the World. You hear such language every day in the streets of Indian and Pakistan. What is the big deal? People just have to accept the reality and drop the pretense.
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MH Jun 25, 2016 10:29pm
It looks like the film is on a serious issue. So the scenes should not be cut by censor board
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Haider Jun 26, 2016 01:50am
@Satish Kumar Dogra Neerja wasnt bought by any distributer film never went to Censor board..Movie had no distributers..
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Rus Jun 26, 2016 06:07am
The film is overhyped, nothing extraordinary.
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Bullt trn Jun 26, 2016 07:33am
@Pk That seems you have watched already before release!!
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Rajesh Punjabi Jun 26, 2016 07:46am
Why don't we have such bold films in Pakistan when we are also having too much drug problems. Drugs are opening available from Afghanistan in our country.
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Khwaja Rizwan Jun 26, 2016 09:37am
Yes the language used in the film is quite filthy. No wonder it is being cut in Pakistan. Though it can be said that this type of language and abuse is quite common here as well. Saw the movie outside Pakistan which is quite good. We face the same drug problems in our part of Punjab , in fact the whole country. Should serve as an eye opener
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Adil Jadoon Jun 27, 2016 05:27am
@Thoughtful not just in Pakistan, everywhere
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Ajaya Dutt Jun 28, 2016 06:21am
@Rus -"The film is overhyped, nothing extraordinary." Just like rest of Bollywood. Only good things come out Loolywood.
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Pune India Jun 28, 2016 11:27am
Why Movies are showing Pakistan related scenes??, In India drugs are airlifted smuggling from Afghanistan to India...Pakistan has nothing to do with Drugs mafia or another narcotics smuggling
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