Udta Punjab row: Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl drag censor board to court

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Filmmakers Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap Wednesday dragged the censor board to court over the controversy surrounding Udta Punjab, a film on the drug menace the border state is battling.

In their petition to the Bombay high court, they have opposed numerous cuts to the film and also sought an A certificate for the movie that will allow for adult viewing only and retain the film title.
The two, news agency PTI said, have asked the court to order the censor board’s review committee to share a copy of its report on the film that has generated a lot of heat even before it has been released.
Kashyap, who has produced the Shahid Kapoor-starrer, Tuesday took on central board of film certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani, accusing him of operating like an oligarch for ordering the cuts and even suggesting dropping all references to Punjab from the film.
The censor chief, in an exclusive interview to HT, hit back at Kashyap, saying the film was littered with expletives and vilified Punjab. “Mr Kashyap is like a child being denied a toy. He loves to make a noise every time a film directed or produced by him is released. And since he makes a lot of movies, he also makes a lot of noise,” Nihalani said.
With Punjab due for state elections, the controversy has assumed political overtones. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, which fancies its chances in the northern state, have criticised the censor board.
Nihalani denied he was under pressure from the Centre to censor the film. The board was being allowed to do its job, he said.
The Shiromani Akali Dal, an NDA partner in power in Punjab for nine years, says the film tarnishes the image of the state and its people.
 
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