Udta Punjab: HC asks censor board to explain tough stand

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 9

The Bombay High Court today asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) how it could tell the producers of ‘Udta Punjab’ to delete words such as ‘MP’, ‘MLA’ and ‘election’.

The court observed that the present generation of cinema viewers was mature. “This generation wants something mature. Shouldn’t have a hue and cry over this,” the court said.

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The HC asked the CBFC what was new about the portrayal of drug abuse in films. “Has the drug menace never been portrayed on celluloid? Some may be crude, while some may be artistic. How does this signboard (Punjab) insult anyone?” it asked.

The court adjourned till tomorrow the hearing of a petition by Phantom Films, the makers of ‘Udta Punjab’, challenging the order to cut 13 scenes. Justices SC Dharmadhikari and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi allowed the producers to amend the petition.

In their plea, the producers said the CBFC’s objections  were “unwarranted and arbitrary.”

Appellate tribunal hearing on June 17

New Delhi: The issue of cuts insisted by the censor board in the film "Udta Punjab" will come up for hearing before the Film Certification and Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) on June 17. Officials said the makers of the film had approached the appellate tribunal against the cuts suggested by Central Board of Film Certification. PTI