Bollywood bats for Kashyap on 'Udta Punjab' censorship row

Major Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Mahesh Bhatt today lent their support to Anurag Kashyap, who has locked horns with censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani over his alleged demands for major cuts in "Udta Punjab".
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly asked the makers to remove the word 'Punjab' from the title and the story. They have also purportedly asked for more than 89 cuts, prompting the makers to move the Bombay High Court.
Besides Bachchan and Aamir, other Bollywood heavyweights to come out in criticism of the board include Mukesh Bhatt, Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Sudhir Mishra and Kabir Khan among others.

"When you kill our creativity, you kill our soul... I hope we can device a system where there is certification rather than censor. Don't try and kill creativity. We all must have the freedom to create because we are in this field and all we have is our soul to create," Bachchan said on the sidelines of promoting "TE3N" in Kolkata.
"I am not aware of 'Udta Punjab' issue. But it is unfortunate that there is going to be a delay that they have to fight their way to the high court," Bachchan said.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan termed the controversy around the film unfortunate.

"I'm pained that the film is going through this. As per my knowledge, it is based on drug addiction and delivers a social message. I don't think there is anything that should be cut or audience should be kept away...

"It reflects badly on CBFC. I hope the film gets justice at the Tribunal. The voice of the filmmaker shouldn't be throttled... There should be freedom of speech. Every Indian should have this right," he said.
In a press conference, Mahesh Bhatt said it was a shame that a movie which "holds a mirror" and shames the Indian society about the drug menace "is being strangulated".

"This is not the industry's problem at all, this is the problem of this country," he said.
"A person who is a roadblock and not a facilitator should be removed. That is something intolerable, unaccepted to film fraternity and we want him out. His move is malicious and vicious. He lies, delays the process and will bully the person," his brother, Mukesh, who is the president of Film and Producers Guild of India, said.
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar said burying one's head in the sand will not make the problems disappear.
"You can't certify something as adult and then give 89 cuts. We are in constant denial of what is going on in the society. It's like it does not exist. There is no drug problem, there is no marital rape, there is no racism... It's just ridiculous," she said.

Kashyap said they will try their best to release the film without cuts and as per its scheduled release on June 17.
When asked about Nihalani's allegations that he took money
from AAP, Kashyap said, "You really want me to answer that? I don't know what to say. I have not taken money. I wish someone would give me money so that I can make more films. I have lots of ideas."
The producer said he wants to release the film the way it is as the cuts suggested are too many.
"There are 94 cuts. We have been asked to delete a lot of things. We have been asked to delete the word Punjab. We have not counted how many times the word has come in the film. We would want to release the film the way it is now," Kashyap said while also denying any political affiliation.

The film's lead star Shahid Kapoor, who plays a drug-addict rocker in the movie, said, "The youth has the right to be informed. But it is not allowed and that is the problem. Youth has the right to know that drugs are a menace. They have the right to know what happens when you indulge in drugs. We all need to support the message this film is sending."
Film's director Abhishek Chaubey said he was almost willing to give in to the demands of the censor board as he did not want his producers to suffer financially.
"There is an environment of fear in Bollywood. Two days ago, we had a meeting and later I sent a text to Vikas (Bahl) and Madhu (Mantena, producer) and told them 'Let's release the film with cuts.

"I don't have the energy to go through this'. Who has the time for all this?," Chaubey said.
The director, whose previous films include "Ishqiya" and "Dedh Ishqiya", said despite the financial risk to the producers, they felt it was an important battle to fight for.
"We realised that if we back off then no other filmmaker will ever make a political film, issue-based film or films on a state. I know there is a huge amount of financial risk for Ekta (Kapoor) and others and personal risk for Anurag (Kashyap) but we will stand by this," Chaubey said.
At the press conference, the makers revealed that they had written a letter to CBFC and Nihalani in which they asked the board to convey their decision regarding certification within 24 hours as the movie is very close to release.

The letter, dated yesterday, said that the producers had applied to the CBFC for "Udta Punjab" certification on May 10.
Filmmaker Kabir Khan, who had to face censor issues with his film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", said there is no point in ignoring the drug problem.
"Are we saying the drug problem does not exist?... We all know till what extent the drug problem exists in Punjab. I was shooting last year in the border areas of Punjab for 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and everybody was talking about it."
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra said, "If the idea is to scare us let me me say I am not going to get scared."

"Tamasha" helmer Imtiaz Ali said, "The content of the film can be judged only after it releases. But as filmmakers, we are not bound to tolerate this. Anything that attacks the freedom of speech and expression should be questioned."
Backed by the Indian Film & Television Directors Association, the press conference was also attended by Ekta Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Aanand L Rai, Madhu Mantena, Satish Kaushik, Ashoke Pandit, Reema Kagti and Ramesh Taurani among others.