Bollywood comes out in support of Udta Punjab’s censorship

June 8, 2016 - 8:17 PM IST

Earlier we reported how Anurag Kashyap's upcoming film Udta Punjab in collaboration with Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures has landed in deep trouble over the abusive content as well as portrayal drug abuse in the film. Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has also ordered removal of the reference of Punjab from the film and the title. Today, the makers of the Udta Punjab along with film fraternity members held a press conference to protest against them.

Bollywood comes out in support of Udta Punjab’s censorship

Censor board Chief Pahlaj Nihalani claims that the film maligns the name of Punjab and the cuts made were necessary as Shahid Kapoor's character only uses abusive language in the film. Udta Punjab's censorship has created a lot of buzz on social media and Bollywood celebs have come out in support of the film. Here's what everyone tweeted:

Karan Johar: "#UdtaPunjab speaks of the reality of our times....censoring reality amounts to delusion.....the fraternity has to stand by what's right!!"

Arjun Kapoor: "U know a lot of people in our fraternity speak up for other causes, it's time we stood up for our own. #UdtaPunjab deserves a proper release."

Dia Mirza: "Those who believe films can empower, educate and inspire change NEVER give in or give up. #CBFC #UdtaPunjab"

Farhan Akhtar: "Power is the most dangerous addiction of all & someone in the CBFC seems to be tripping hard on Lassi in the Sky with Diamonds. #UdtaPunjab."

Kapil Sharma: "Families have lost their youth to easy drugs and lack of rehabs in de state.. so can't shut our eyes to this."

Goldie Behl: "outlook wrote about the drugs issue in Punjab if that was allowed why not a movie as well #UdtaPunjabCensored coz filmmakers r soft targets."

Hansal Mehta: "Delusion or collusion? Why is the establishment so scared of films that mirror reality? #UdtaPunjabCensored "

Nikkhil Advani: "Are we (censor board) not reading the disclaimer at the beginning of films. It's fictional na? Hmmm.., maybe it isn't? #UdtaPunjabCensored"

Sanjay Jha: "I know @shahidkapoor is the hero of #UdtaPunjab . Who is the heroin??"

Anupama Chopra: "Do not go gentle into that good night Bollywood! Rage, rage against this theatre of the absurd. #UdtaPunjabCensored"

Mahesh Bhatt: "The Censors says I am the one who says the last sentence on UDTA PUNJAB .The nation can say what it wants our verdict is going to stick."

Aditi Rao Hydari: You throttle an artist you throttle democracy... #UdtaPunjab

Posting a note on Twitter in support of Udta Punjab was Pyaar Ka Punchama actress Sonalli Seygall, that read, "Job of a regulator requires extra ordinary courage. Touching and redesigning limits of what is acceptable is an important job of a regulator. A coward regulator is worse than having no control at all. Society trusts such institutions of censorship not only to protect but also to inspire. Actually use of excessive force by censor is threat every filmmaker is facing in India. Fear of censorship is killing unborn ideas. These ideas have ability to change the world, but under environment of threat nothing can grow"

Udta Punjab's lead actor Shahid Kapoor was completely overwhelmed by the immense amount of support they have been receiving from both fans and Bollywood. He tweeted, "Overwhelmed with all the support #UdtaPunjab #freedomofexpression #drugsdimaadi."

As of now, Anurag Kashyap has moved the Bombay High Court to retain the release date of the film.