Sections of the Hindi film industry have openly come out against the Central Board of Film Certification’s attempts to muzzle the upcoming movie Udta Punjab. Scheduled to open on July 17, Abhishek Chaubey’s Traffic-inspired ensemble drama explores the narcotics trade in Punjab through four characters – an addicted singer (Shahid Kapoor), a low-level drug mule (Alia Bhatt), a doctor (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and a police officer (Diljit Dosanjh). Members of the trade body Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association have thrown in their lot with Udta Punjab’s producers, Bajali Telefilms and Phantom Films, even as Nihalani, in a provocative interview to the Economic Times newspaper, claims that the film defames the state and its people.
Much of the battle is being fought in the Twitter trenches. Here are some of the dispatches.
#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
Power is the most dangerous addiction of all & someone in the CBFC seems to be tripping hard on Lassi in the Sky with Diamonds. #UdtaPunjab
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) June 7, 2016
After removing Punjab from #UdtaPunjab, Censor Board to remove Daro from #MohenjoDaro in all dry states like Gujarat and Bihar.
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 7, 2016
Udta Punjab is not just about a film. It's about freedom of art & freedom of speech, even if an interpretation. Save India. Keep it free.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) June 7, 2016
Apparently the Indian censor board believes there is no drug problem amongst the youth of Punjab #UdtaPunjab
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) June 7, 2016
The Censors says I am the one who says the last sentence on UDTA PUNJAB .The nation can say what it wants our verdict is going to stick.
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) June 7, 2016
Udta PM shud care about Girta Punjab and give achche din by ordering censor board to not stop showing truth..Achche din is that Modi sir!
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 7, 2016
entire industry should lodge a protest नही तो खुद पे पड़ेगा तो खुदा ना करे।#udta punjab
— Manoj Bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) June 7, 2016
#SalaamBombay was a film based in a red light area. Didn't mean #Mumbai was identified with prostitution. Same logic applies to #UdtaPunjab.
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 7, 2016
Censorship is state run mind control #UdtaPunjab
— Tahir Raj Bhasin (@TahirRajBhasin) June 7, 2016
Indian industry of cinema and television should move out of the country to tell stories honestly #UdtaPolitics #UdtaPanjab
— vinta nanda (@vintananda) June 7, 2016
When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar,you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say. #UdtaPunjab
— Gauri Shinde (@gauris) June 8, 2016
Those who believe films can empower, educate and inspire change NEVER give in or give up. #CBFC #UdtaPunjab
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) June 8, 2016
