The controversies surrounding Udta Punjab don’t seem to end. First there was the whole hoopla around it getting banned, then the title was asked to be reworked, then the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked for 89 cuts, leading to Anurag Kashyap lashing out at everyone he could.
And now, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani has come forward explaining why they have ordered 89 cuts to the most controversial movie of the year.
Nihalani said that since the majority of the movie is based in Punjab and it shows the people in the state consuming drugs, it shows Punjab in a bad light.
“Such a movie if released will a bring name to the community that is present everywhere in the world.”
He defended the cuts, saying that the CBFC is against approving matter which defames people or communities in movies and that the entire censor board panel was with him in this decision. He added, “98 per cent of the movie is in Punjabi and based entirely in Punjab. It is not a Hindi film at all. It has defamatory references to people in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and other cities of Punjab. It paints all Punjabis in bad light.”
After Anurag Kashyap likened the CBFC to the dictatorship in North Korea, Nihalani also had a response to the rampant slandering that Kashyap was resorting to, saying that it is another publicity gimmick for him.
“Every time he creates noise by creating such unwanted controversy to get attention to get his movies running.”
Nihalani said that Anurag Kashyap did not raise any voice when about eight films of his were released in the past year. The film was supposed to be passed with an A-grade certification along with 89 cuts, all of which were verbally communicated to the filmmakers, according to the CBFC chief.
On the filmmakers approaching the media and the Bombay High Court, Nihalani said that the censor board just performed their duty and stuck to the guidelines as they were laid down.
“There is no pressure on us. They can go to the tribunal or court now.”
Nihalani said that his panel members were outraged on some references made to the people of Punjab and other celebrities. For instance, a dog in the film is named Jackie Chan, hence the CBFC asked for the removal of the last name Chan. Another line in the movie says, “Punjab di Zameen banjar aur aulad kanjar hai,” (The land of Punjab is barren and her children are illegitimate) and it had sparked much uproar.
Punjab CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s office also weighed in on the controversy, saying that they are on board with the CBFC’s demands.
An Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Arun Malhotra, said the following:
It seems like the CBFC will not back down from their stance and neither will the filmmakers. It remains to be seen now if there will be a consensus among both parties.
News source: The Economic Times
Cover image sources: 1 & 2