What's left in 'Udta Punjab' after 100 cuts suggested by Pakistan?

Pakistani censor board today gave a green signal to the release of 'Udta Punjab' after suggesting more than "100 cuts".

Pakistani censor board today gave a green signal to the release of Indian movie "Udta Punjab" here after suggesting more than "100 cuts" to remove "objectionable and anti-Pakistan" content from the film, which had already run afoul with Indian censors.
"All 10-members of the CBFC have unanimously allowed 'Udta Punjab' to be released after editing objectionable content," Mubashir Hasan, the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) head, said.
Hasan said almost every dialogue had offensive words so they asked for major cuts in the Punjab-set drug drama.

"We have cut all derogatory and offensive words/dialogues and anti-Pakistan content from the film. More than 100 cuts, mutes, beeps have been suggested to the film's distributor. Once he will complete the editing as per the requirement of the board, it will again be presented before it for final approval," Hasan said.

The Abhishek Chaubey-directed movie, starring Bollywood A-listers Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh, had run into trouble with the Indian censor board which demanded 89 cuts from the movie.
Not to ready to relent, the producers moved the Bombay High Court against the board to get their film cleared for its scheduled release on June 17 while also gathering support from Bollywood. The court passed the movie with just one cut and a revised disclaimer.

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor poses with actresses Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan during the trailer launch of the forthcoming Hindi film 'Udta Punjab'.- AFP
Earlier, the five-member panel of the board declined to pass 'Udta Punjab' for screening in Pakistan, citing objectionable content but Hasan said they later decided to give it conditional approval.
"We had not banned this movie. On the appeal of the distributor the full board sat together today and gave conditional approval for its screening here," Hasan said.
He said the board never compromises on anti-Islam, anti-Pakistan and anti-society contents in a film and bans it forthwith.

"'Udta Punjab' does not fall in that category. We have asked the distributor to delete those scenes which even slightly refer to Pakistan and words like '786' (which refers to Bismillah) and words 'Maryam'."
"Udta Punjab is likely to be screened across Pakistan this weekend," the distributor said.

The film's story delves into the drug problem that the youth in Punjab is facing, and this has been told through actors Shahid, a youth icon and music star who remains high on drugs; Alia, a Bihari woman who falls in the trap of drug peddlers; Kareena, a doctor on a mission to break the drug nexus in the state; and Diljit, a police officer who dares to take on the system after his brother falls victim to the drug menace.

With its unapologetic use of abusive language, "Udta Punjab" wasn't deemed fit for release even with an 'A' certificate by the Indian censor board which initially ordered 89 cuts and removal of reference to the state.
The makers - led by Anurag Kashyap who has been credited as being the face of a new wave of cinema in India - moved the Bombay High Court, and walked away victorious after agreeing to make one cut and adding three disclaimers.
The controversy stretched for almost two weeks, and became a larger issue when political bigwigs stepped in with their comments. The row also raised questions - once again - about the feasibility of having a censor board - and brought filmmakers to demand an organisation which only certifies films and not excise parts of it.
The movie got a favourable response in India for its anti-drug message and also for its strong performances. It made Rs 38.30 crore in four days of its release.