Subhash Kapoor's Guddu Rangeela is a fun film about two bumbling small-time crooks, played by Amit Sadh and Arshad Warsi, who are playing characters of Guddu and Rangeela, respectively. In the film, Guddu and Rangeela are two small-time orchestra singers based in Haryana, who sing a song 'Mata Ka Email' that has the following lyrics -'Kal Raat Mata Ka Mujhe Email Aaya Hai, Mata Ne Mujhko Facebook Pe Bulaya Hai'. We have learnt that this song has allegedly upset the sentiments of a few religious organisations across North and West parts of the country. As a result, the makers have received several emails and threatening calls asking them to remove this song from the film. The makers have been threatened that if they don't remove the song, they would risk facing dire consequences, including disruptions at the theatres. Recently in Ludhiana, there were demonstrations held demanding a ban to be put on the film and posters of the film were put on fire.

This is not the first time that films made have been threatened by groups of people who consider themselves the custodians of part of society. We have seen it happening for films like Oh My God and PK earlier and now, the same is beginning to happen for Guddu Rangeela. Talking to us about the threats, director of the film Subhash Kapoor said, “Guddu Rangeela is not a religious film. It's a masala entertainer with a message. There is nothing in the film that can hurt anybody's religious sentiments. The film is certified by the Censor Board and I request people to see the film when it releases on July 3 and then come to their own conclusions.“

We endorse Subhash Kapoor's view that post the Censor Board clearing a film, individuals and bodies should not be allowed to disrupt the release of a film, till they have seen the film and find anything truly objectionable, otherwise it puts the filmmakers through unwarranted and unpredictable risk without them having any control on it. The Censor Board should be considered the final custodian of judging what is good or bad for the viewers in India.