Udta Punjab release in jeopardy due to Censor trouble

The Censor Board for Film Certification (CBFC) has been in the news quite a lot ever since it was appointed last year due to the strict diktat followed by its chief, Pahlaj Nihalani. Along with bold and intimate scenes, the board has been strongly objecting the use of cuss words. 

Nihalani further became unpopular among the film fraternity after he brought out a list of 28 abusive terms that, according to the board, cannot be used in films. 

The CBFC has once again made headlines for the wrong reasons as it has reportedly ordered cuts in Abhishek Chaubey’s much talked about, Udta Punjab for the use of abusive language by the character played by its lead actor, Shahid Kapoor. The actor plays a drug addict rock star, who abuses often. 

The reports also suggest that the makers were ready to receive an adult certificate without the removal of abusive words but the board wasn’t ready for the same. Last year too, the censors passed Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 with an adult certificate even after muting objectionable terms. Earlier this year, Prakash Jha’s Jai Gangaajal too faced similar trouble from the CBFC. 

Surprisingly, the trailer of Udta Punjab was passed by the board with adult certificate without the removal of any of the cuss words. Hence, this move by the censors has taken the makers by surprise.

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh and it deals with the problem of drug abuse prevalent in the state of Punjab. One of the co-producers of the film is Anurag Kashyap, who has had a history of issues with the newly appointed censors. 

The makers now have the option of approaching the tribunal board. It is to be seen whether the censor trouble affects the release of the film, which is supposed to hit theaters on June 17.