In a major embarrassment to the censor board, the Bombay High Court ruled that the blanket ban on Udta Punjab was interfering with the creative freedom and was not justified.Giving out the verdict, the high court said the movie can be released with just one cut and ‘A’ certification. The court stated that censor board cannot act like a grandmother and has to change with times.
The court has asked the filmmakers to delete the urination scene from the movie.
Earlier in the day, after reading the script, the Bombay High Court had stated that Udta Punjab was not supporting drugs and did not question India’s sovereignty or integrity.
The court strongly remarked that they it did not find the film question sovereignty or integrity of India by the names of cities, reference to state or by a signpost.
India’s censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani had asked for 13 cuts in the movie and told the filmmakers to remove the word ‘Punjab’ from the movie.
“All characters show facets of drug menace, nothing to harm state's sovereignty. The board should use power as per Constitution and Supreme Court's direction. Udta Punjab' movie is depicting drugs menace in Punjab,” the court ruled.
The court also reminded Nihalani that his job was to certify films not censor them.
"The CBFC is not required by law to censor. The word "censor" is not in the Cinematograph Act. Therefore, if by law the board is empowered to make cuts and deletions in that power it must exercise it consist with constitutional guarantees," the court said.
Udta Punjab’s makers had moved the court over cuts.
Meanwhile, Bollywood director Abhishek Chaubey said he was massively relieved that the film was releasing on the scheduled date.
Udta Punjab’s co-producer Madhu Mantena Verma said, “This judgement is for the whole film industry, it is not only for us. It is awesome.”
Udta Punjab starring Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh is scheduled to release on June 17.
(Image: Indiatimes)