Producers of Udta Punjab have moved the Bombay High Court against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as their film waits for a certificate from the board. The court has adjourned the hearing on the film until tomorrow.

Today, the revising committee of the CBFC demanded several changes in the film, beginning with its title even if the filmmakers apply for an 'A' certificate.

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The makers of film Udta Punjab today approached the Bombay high court as they were just nine days away from release of their film while there had been no communication from the film certification board. Phantom Films Pvt Limited had applied for film certification on May 10 for their latest venture Udta Punjab. According to the petition filed by their advocate Ameet Naik, the issue of film certification for their film was before the review committee but in spite of all the efforts put in, CBFC did not communicate to them about the issue.

However, after much dialogue a communication regarding an A certificate from the CBFC reached the office of Phantom Films. The letter however had an attachment stating the reasons for grant of A certificate to the film.

The Abhishek Chaubey-directed film, which is slated for a June 17 release, the CBFC has said, cannot have the word 'Punjab' in its title. In addition to that, the CBFC has also asked for the removal of any reference of Punjab in the film. It also wants names of Punjab's cities deleted and words like MLA, MLC removed.

The CBFC had first refused to give a certificate to Udta Punjab unless the changes were made. The film then went to the Censor Board Review Committee. The Review Committee stood by the CBFC's verdict: the removal of any reference to Punjab from the film and the other suggested cuts.

However the makers of the film have objected to the "suggestions" made by the CBFC and have decided to challenge this aspect now. The appeal against board's decision has to be done before the film certification appellate tribunal (FCAT) however kashyap's lawyers contended that the tribunal at present is headless so they will have to approach the Bombay high court itself for their issues to be heard.



With the Udta Punjab issue turning into a war between co-producer Anurag Kashyap and CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, the producers have now moved the Bombay High Court seeking a copy of the order of the Censor Board Review Committee report on the film, reports PTI. Kashyap has also appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.

The makers of film Udta Punjab today approached the Bombay High Court as they were just nine days away from release of their film while there had been no communication from the film certification board.



Meanwhile, even as the battle continues, Kashyap had taken to Twitter to lash out at Pahlaj Nihalani and the CBFC, calling the latter an 'oligarch' and comparing the conditions in India to that in North Korea.

The tweets brought about a war of words between Kashyap and Pahlaj Nihalani, both of whom have been taking turns to speak to the media.

Nihalani, in a television interview, accused Kashyap of taking money from the Aam Aadmi Party to malign the image of Punjab. While no one is quite sure how Nihalani arrived at this conclusion, it needs to be pointed out that only yesterday, Kashyap asked all political parties to stay away from the Udta Punjab issue.

When the Gangs Of Wasseypur director's tweet "There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB .. And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs (sic)" saw AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal saying "I completely agree", the latter received a piece of Kashyap's mind.

"Please don't colour my fight with any political affiliation because there is none. I request Congress, AAP and other political parties to stay out of my battle. It's my Rights vs the Censorship. I speak only on my behalf. It's my fight Vs a dictatorial man sitting there operating like an oligarch in his constituency of censor board, that's my North Korea. Rest of you go pick your own fights. I will fight mine," Kashyap wrote.

Kashyap's tweet was in response to Rahul Gandhi too, whose office had tweeted, "Punjab has a crippling drug problem. Censoring #UdtaPunjab will not fix it. The government must accept the reality and find solutions."

Udta Punjab is in the middle of a raging controversy thanks to its content. The film attempts to bring on screen the problem of drug abuse among the youth of Punjab. And this hasn't gone down all too well with people in the higher echelons of power, or so the developments in the case would have one believe.