'Udta Punjab' has released after weeks of controversy. (PTI Photo)
Highlights
- 'Udta Punjab' released on Friday after court cleared it with one cut
- Censor board had refused to clear film without multiple edits
- Producer Anurag Kashyap appeals on Facebook against illegal downloads
The film
Udta Punjab released today after weeks of bickering and stress for its makers as the censor board called for multiple cuts and refused to clear it until the court stepped in.
Even before critics had pronounced their verdict, social media was abuzz with reactions from celebrities and others.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal praised the film but not without a swipe at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family - the main opponent for his party in state elections next year.The film's biggest adversary till recently, censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, said: "The way the film has been released is marvellous. My well wishes to the distributors and the producers."
The thriller based on drug abuse in Punjab was almost blocked by the censor board, which demanded 89 cuts. The film cleared one last hurdle on Thursday when a court dismissed a petition against it. The film's producers and actors also struggled to stop multiple sites from offering
Udta Punjab downloads illegally after a copy was leaked online.Producer Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films has filed a copyright theft case and alleged that a copy of the version they submitted to the censor board found its way into several torrent sites.
Pahlaj Nihalani denied any connection with the leak and said: "We have all records, let the police question us."
Refusing to make so many edits,
Udta Punjab's producers took the censor board to the Bombay High Court which ordered that the film be released with a single cut and three disclaimers.
The cuts suggested for 'Udta Punjab' included removing the word "Punjab" throughout the film, deleting expletives or words like "election" and "parliament", and bleeping out the name of a dog called Jackie Chan.
Punjab, which is ruled by the Akali Dal and the BJP, will hold elections next year and many accuse the censor board chief of trying to avoid embarrassing the state government with the drug-themed film.
Udta Punjab stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh.