Showing posts with label Shiromani Akali Dal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shiromani Akali Dal. Show all posts
Censor board clips wings of Udta Punjab; makers to move High Court
8:14 AM
Remove Punjab From Title, Makers Told
Rohan Dua (THE TIMES OF INDIA; June 7, 2016)
A huge political battle has
broken out between SAD-BJP alliance government and the opposition after
the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) on Monday asked the
producers to drop 'Punjab' from the title of the film 'Udta Punjab'.
This is the second time that the film has left the board queasy. On May
26 it had objected the excessive use of profanities in the film and
sought 89 cuts to give it a 'U/A' certificate.
While CBFC member Ashoke Pandit criticised his own colleagues for “embarking on dangerous territory of hemming creative freedom“, AAP and Congress slammed the government for being behind the “censorship move“. With assembly elections in January 2017 in Punjab and drugs being an extremely sensitive political subject, politicians seem divided on the impact the film can have on the polls. The film's producer Anurag Kashyap said in Mumbai that “if any film is changed slightly, it is Qatl-e-Aam of it. No filmmaker wants to have cuts and leave it at that.“
“The Akali Dal knows the movie with big stars like Shahid and Kareena will put drugs in the centre stage of the political debate ahead of polls. So first, they tried to politely use censorship by pressurising the filmmakers to remove abuses from the script and then this... We will take this issue to Parliament and not allow this move,“ said Partap Bajwa, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former state party chief.
SAD, however, maintained that it would welcome the movie screening as long as the Punjabi community was not defamed. “We have got no control over such decisions. As we said in the past, we will continue to welcome this movie as long as no party or the Punjab community is slammed. If the film is about a societal issue, only then we welcome it,“ said SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha from Amritsar.
Pandit, who was not part of the film's screening team, said the film-makers have no option but to first approach the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) and then the SC. “I don't know whether there is political pressure behind this decision, but I can say it's a rank undemocratic move by the review committee. Haven't we had movies like 'Bombay' and 'Mission Kashmir' before? Someone needs to stand up against the symptomatic harassment and attempts to curb freedom of expression,“ said Pandit.
“It's very absurd that the trailer of the film was cleared for release by the censors but not the film. This is a joke and I want to know what Shyam Benegal has to say and all the promises that were made. If the state government or a political party has a problem, let them go to the court. Why should a statutory board get into this? How can you question the integrity of a serious issue based film instead of sorting the drug problem in Punjab?“ he asked.
Actor and AAP worker Gul Panag, who belongs to Punjab, said that it was strange that CBFC was trying to censor things that are already in public domain. “Besides creative freedom should never be impinged, when its delivering a social message,“ said Panag.
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MUMBAI MIRROR (June 7, 2016)
While CBFC member Ashoke Pandit criticised his own colleagues for “embarking on dangerous territory of hemming creative freedom“, AAP and Congress slammed the government for being behind the “censorship move“. With assembly elections in January 2017 in Punjab and drugs being an extremely sensitive political subject, politicians seem divided on the impact the film can have on the polls. The film's producer Anurag Kashyap said in Mumbai that “if any film is changed slightly, it is Qatl-e-Aam of it. No filmmaker wants to have cuts and leave it at that.“
“The Akali Dal knows the movie with big stars like Shahid and Kareena will put drugs in the centre stage of the political debate ahead of polls. So first, they tried to politely use censorship by pressurising the filmmakers to remove abuses from the script and then this... We will take this issue to Parliament and not allow this move,“ said Partap Bajwa, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former state party chief.
SAD, however, maintained that it would welcome the movie screening as long as the Punjabi community was not defamed. “We have got no control over such decisions. As we said in the past, we will continue to welcome this movie as long as no party or the Punjab community is slammed. If the film is about a societal issue, only then we welcome it,“ said SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha from Amritsar.
Pandit, who was not part of the film's screening team, said the film-makers have no option but to first approach the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) and then the SC. “I don't know whether there is political pressure behind this decision, but I can say it's a rank undemocratic move by the review committee. Haven't we had movies like 'Bombay' and 'Mission Kashmir' before? Someone needs to stand up against the symptomatic harassment and attempts to curb freedom of expression,“ said Pandit.
“It's very absurd that the trailer of the film was cleared for release by the censors but not the film. This is a joke and I want to know what Shyam Benegal has to say and all the promises that were made. If the state government or a political party has a problem, let them go to the court. Why should a statutory board get into this? How can you question the integrity of a serious issue based film instead of sorting the drug problem in Punjab?“ he asked.
Actor and AAP worker Gul Panag, who belongs to Punjab, said that it was strange that CBFC was trying to censor things that are already in public domain. “Besides creative freedom should never be impinged, when its delivering a social message,“ said Panag.
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MUMBAI MIRROR (June 7, 2016)
Could this be the last time
we call Abhishek Chaubey's widely talked about drug-drama by its
original title, Udta Punjab? After the film was referred to the Revising
Committee that upheld the Censor Board's recommendation of 89 cuts on
Friday because of “excessive swearing and extreme visuals", adding that
“Punjab“ be dropped from the title and the story be set in a fictional
land instead, the makers have decided to put their foot down and fight
it out in the High Court.
“It is all hearsay. We haven't received an official letter from either the Revising Committee or the I&B Ministry, whom we have already apprised of the situation. We will release the film on the original date, June 17. This is something we have stood by since the beginning,“ one of the film's producers informed Mirror. The review screening, after which it was also suggested that apart from the title, all mentions of the state be removed from the film, was reportedly presided over by Censor Board of Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani.
Meanwhile, Punjab's ruling party Akali Dal, led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Sukhbir Badal, have raised strong objections to the film's title and narrative. The state government is routinely targeted by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for the growing drug menace in the region. The opposition parties have made it clear that it will also be the top issue in their election campaign. The movie features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh and is produced by Phantom Films and Ekta Kapoor-led Balaji Films.
A source from within the Censor Board informed, “Shyam Benegal's committee report also says the same thing: controversial-gory plotlines should either be released with an 'A' certificate with no cuts, or be banned entirely because cinema does not deserve to be scissored so the makers may have to succumb to pressure in a bid to salvage their film.“
Before the film's team met on Monday evening to plan their next move, reports claimed that they had already decided to knock off “Punjab“ from the title as well as from certain portions from the film.
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Reports that the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal might have asked makers of Udta Punjab to drop Punjab from the title spark angry as well as hilarious reactions from netizens
MID-DAY (June 7, 2016)
After being asked to effect nearly 40 cuts in Udta Punjab, the makers had knocked on the doors of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) hoping for some respite. However, amidst reports that the tribunal has suggested that ‘Punjab’ be dropped from the film’s title, social media went berserk with reactions that ranged from angry to hilarious. While the makers are tightlipped about any such development, sources close to the film say that they are awaiting an official communication regarding the same. The film deals with rampant drug abuse in the northern state.
The film starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh was slated to hit theatres on June 17. However, given the censor issues, the release date is likely to be delayed by two weeks or perhaps, more. Interestingly, Censor Board member Ashoke Pandit posted a series of tweets that read, “I as a filmmaker & a citizen of this country condemn d act of asking the producers 2 remove d word ‘Punjab’ from the film. I question the intelligence of the committee which has given this judgement of removing the word ‘Punjab’ from #UdtaPunjab. I as a #CBFC member appeal to the #Chairman to take a call as a filmmaker & protect the FOE of a filmmaker (sic).”
Bollywood folk also joined the debate on Twitter and slammed the alleged decision to change the title. The sarcasm in Ram Gopal Varma’s post was hard to miss as he wrote, “For what it actually represents Udta Punjab Is diminutive.. A more truthful and righteous title would be Udta India or Udta World.” Shirish Kunder tweeted: “You may feel it’s not fair to remove Punjab from Udta Punjab. But wait till Maneka Gandhi tells to remove Tommy from Tommy Singh (name of Shahid’s character)." A large number of netizens seemed outraged and made their disgust as well as frustration obvious through their comments on social media.
Aisi Taisi Democracy posted a tongue- in- cheek tweet: “No drug problem in Punjab No caste problem in India No gun problem in US No dictator problem in N. Korea No denial problem on this planet.”
Twitter user Priya Adivarekar wrote: “Demanding multiple cuts, deleting the main track & other elements. What do you want Udta Punjab to be in the end? A Snapchat video? #Unfair (sic).”
“It is all hearsay. We haven't received an official letter from either the Revising Committee or the I&B Ministry, whom we have already apprised of the situation. We will release the film on the original date, June 17. This is something we have stood by since the beginning,“ one of the film's producers informed Mirror. The review screening, after which it was also suggested that apart from the title, all mentions of the state be removed from the film, was reportedly presided over by Censor Board of Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani.
Meanwhile, Punjab's ruling party Akali Dal, led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Sukhbir Badal, have raised strong objections to the film's title and narrative. The state government is routinely targeted by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for the growing drug menace in the region. The opposition parties have made it clear that it will also be the top issue in their election campaign. The movie features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh and is produced by Phantom Films and Ekta Kapoor-led Balaji Films.
A source from within the Censor Board informed, “Shyam Benegal's committee report also says the same thing: controversial-gory plotlines should either be released with an 'A' certificate with no cuts, or be banned entirely because cinema does not deserve to be scissored so the makers may have to succumb to pressure in a bid to salvage their film.“
Before the film's team met on Monday evening to plan their next move, reports claimed that they had already decided to knock off “Punjab“ from the title as well as from certain portions from the film.
---------------------------
Reports that the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal might have asked makers of Udta Punjab to drop Punjab from the title spark angry as well as hilarious reactions from netizens
MID-DAY (June 7, 2016)
After being asked to effect nearly 40 cuts in Udta Punjab, the makers had knocked on the doors of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) hoping for some respite. However, amidst reports that the tribunal has suggested that ‘Punjab’ be dropped from the film’s title, social media went berserk with reactions that ranged from angry to hilarious. While the makers are tightlipped about any such development, sources close to the film say that they are awaiting an official communication regarding the same. The film deals with rampant drug abuse in the northern state.
The film starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh was slated to hit theatres on June 17. However, given the censor issues, the release date is likely to be delayed by two weeks or perhaps, more. Interestingly, Censor Board member Ashoke Pandit posted a series of tweets that read, “I as a filmmaker & a citizen of this country condemn d act of asking the producers 2 remove d word ‘Punjab’ from the film. I question the intelligence of the committee which has given this judgement of removing the word ‘Punjab’ from #UdtaPunjab. I as a #CBFC member appeal to the #Chairman to take a call as a filmmaker & protect the FOE of a filmmaker (sic).”
Bollywood folk also joined the debate on Twitter and slammed the alleged decision to change the title. The sarcasm in Ram Gopal Varma’s post was hard to miss as he wrote, “For what it actually represents Udta Punjab Is diminutive.. A more truthful and righteous title would be Udta India or Udta World.” Shirish Kunder tweeted: “You may feel it’s not fair to remove Punjab from Udta Punjab. But wait till Maneka Gandhi tells to remove Tommy from Tommy Singh (name of Shahid’s character)." A large number of netizens seemed outraged and made their disgust as well as frustration obvious through their comments on social media.
Aisi Taisi Democracy posted a tongue- in- cheek tweet: “No drug problem in Punjab No caste problem in India No gun problem in US No dictator problem in N. Korea No denial problem on this planet.”
Twitter user Priya Adivarekar wrote: “Demanding multiple cuts, deleting the main track & other elements. What do you want Udta Punjab to be in the end? A Snapchat video? #Unfair (sic).”
Who is 'banning' Udta Punjab? An analysis...
8:24 AM
Mohar Basu and Sonil Dedhia (BOMBAY TIMES; May 29, 2016)
So who is banning Udta Punjab? Apparently, no one. It seems that the news of this film being banned is probably just udti hui khabar. After social media went on a tirade against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for 'banning' the film, Bombay Times probed into the issue. It is said that when the film was seen by he members of the Examining Committee, they unanimously agreed to give it an 'A' certificate and suggested 8 cuts. Ever since the film's trailer released, its explosive content became the topic of discussion. While a section of moviegoers couldn't stop raving about its trippy trailer, the excessive use of expletives and the subject of drug abuse in Punjab incurred the wrath of certain quarters.
On talking to Pahlaj Nihalani, CBFC chairperson, for his version, he revealed, “We have not recommended any cuts. Yes, the Examining Committee had a few reservations and couldn't come to a consensus on the film, because of which they suggested that the makers take the film to the Revising Committee. However, the makers decided to move to the Tribunal instead, which is absolutely their call. Our decisions at the CBFC are not based on what a certain political group has to say about a movie. There is no ban from our end. We aren't authorised to ban a movie; we can pass it or reject it.“
Ashoke Pandit, a member of the CBFC, said, “I have no idea why the Examining Committee has asked for the cuts in the first place, considering the panel, led by Shyam Benegal, has categorically made scathing remarks against censorship.“
Ashoke adds, “But looking at it logically, I feel that these are just fabricated news based on presumptions. If the CBFC had cleared the trailer of the film that had enough gaalis and showed everything the film wanted to say, why would they ban it now? The CBFC has a system in place, which every film has to pass to be able to get certified. If the trailer that was released was honest and effective, even the film wouldn't be compromised on.“
The movie will be watched by the Appellate Tribunal Committee this week, and there is hope that they will exercise fair judgement. When BT contacted the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore, he assured that there won't be any prejudice. “Our office is still not a party to this issue. The CBFC has recommended revisions and if the makers have any problem with the decision of the Tribunal, then we will intervene,“ he said.
It was reported that members of Shiromani Akali Dal, the ruling party of Punjab, felt that the film is portraying their state in a bad light. It was also said that the Censor Board refused certification to the film not purely for the explosive content, but due to political reasons. When asked about the supposed ban of the film in Punjab, Virsa Singh Valtoha, an MLA of the party, said, “The problem of substance abuse is not exclusive to Punjab. To target one particular state amounts to defamation. We don't have any issue with the film and we've never asked for a ban. So far, we've not even watched the movie and we don't plan to do it. If there is any film which holds a mirror to the evils in society, we welcome it. We are just being accused of something that we haven't done. From our side, there is no political agenda of banning the film at all.“
Meanwhile, the film's director Abhishek Chaubey and producers are maintaining a strict 'no comments' stance. However, they are definitely hopeful. At the music launch of the film, one of the producers of Udta Punjab, Vikas Bahl had said, “We would insist the Board to give us an adult certificate. This film has been made for a certain age group and above that. There seems to be fluctuations in some of the decisions of the CBFC, but I think that is just a process. I personally think that the CBFC is coming to a point where, after some time, people will feel that some decisions taken by them are justified. This film is an adult film. We should get an adult certificate. I think everything, if seen in the right context, will get the right judgement.“
Director Rahul Dholakia tweeted on this controversy, “Censor censor on the wall, who's the fairest of them all.“ Well, let's hope the film gets treated fairly all the way.
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