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Udta Punjab vs Censor Board: Here's who Bollywood's backing

Udta Punjab vs Censor Board: Here's who Bollywood's backing

"Are we supposed to say that drugs aren't being consumed in parts of the country?" scoffs Karan Johar
Updated 09 Jun, 2016

The controversy surrounding the Shahid Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer, Udta Punjab seems to have created immense furor among the Bollywood fraternity.

The upcoming flick revolves around the youth of Punjab and the impact substance abuse has on them.

Celebs are voicing concern against the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) and it's decision to censor the word Punjab in the upcoming film and its proposal of reportedly 94 cuts from the movie for its excessive use of profanities.

"Anything that attacks the freedom of expression is annoying. We're all together and will speak up,” said Highway director Imtiaz Ali.

PK leading man, Aamir Khan also chimed in and conveyed his disapproval: “This kind of thing reflects badly on the CBFC. It's a social film with a good social message. I don't think there's anything that should be cut or not shown to the audience. It's very important that filmmakers have a voice which is not throttled.”

Filmmaker Karan Johar wrote, "Are we supposed to say that drugs aren't being consumed in parts of the country? No, no, everyone's just high on mithai. Is baby powder what's being sniffed by available and interested nostrils? Rarely do mainstream stars step out of their comfort zones to do films that reflect reality, now you're scaring away those that do."

Amitabh Bachchan, on the other hand, took a more nuanced approach.

“I'm not quite aware of what the issue is, I've been reading about it. All I can say is that don't try and kill creativity. If you kill creativity, you kill the soul and that is all that we (artists) have; that would be detrimental.”

Other B-Town stars, like Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar, took to Twitter to speak up:

Alia Bhatt chose to use Malala Yousafzai’s quote to drive home her point.

Her father, Mahesh Bhatt, is of the same view:

Farhan Akhtar’s fury should give the CBFC a reality check.

Film critic Anupama Chopra backed her point of view with hard-hitting numbers.

Arjun Kapoor asks his fellow B-Town celebs to speak up against the issue.

Actress Soha Ali Khan is not too happy with the decision either.

The movie was slated to release on June 17 but we reckon it might be postponed if this doesn't get sorted out soon!

Comments

Vinod Narang Jun 09, 2016 06:41pm
I never though that in my life time I will see this.
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Dipak Singh Jun 10, 2016 10:42am
It will release with full movie, I'm 100% sure. coz nobody can kill truth & creativity. Jai Ho
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Swarn Arora Jun 11, 2016 12:31am
Udta Punjab should be released without any cuts. It will open the eyes of our entire nation and can save our youth from destruction.
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Swarn Arora Jun 11, 2016 12:33am
Movie Udta Panjab should be shone without any cuts. It will save our youth from destruction.
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Prasad Jun 11, 2016 05:36pm
Censor Board should have more trust in people's abilities...if some people don't like the message, they should stay home and not watch the movie...
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Arsalan Jun 12, 2016 01:32pm
@Swarn Arora WOW! Respect the intentions of the public to release this without censors but saying it will be the 'Citizenfour' for India's generations is a bit too much!
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brar Jun 13, 2016 04:27am
Had there been no elections in Panjan next Feb there would not have been any hue and cry the politicians are concerned about votes only, it is not that Panjab youth started using drugs recently but the Producer is member of AAP and they are going to win the election and the congress also wanted to do the same that is why capt Amrinder Singh declared that he will distribute uncut CD of the film.
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