Udta Punjab got its wings clipped as the Central Board of Film Certification, or as most people know it, the Censor Board, refused to certify it for release.
Udta Punjab got its wings clipped as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), or as most people know it, the Censor Board, refused to certify it for release.
There were a few conditions to be met for the film to be granted the certification— 89 cuts and removing any mention of Punjab.
In a film, that was made to raise awareness about the endemic drug problem in the state, the changes would affect the crux of the film.
Twitter and Facebook erupted in protest against the decision as did filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Mukesh Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt, Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Sudhir Mishra and Kabir Khan.
Clearly, it will be a while before the Indian film industry can make films like Trainspotting or The Basketball Diaries.
The irony is that there were times when the Censor Board got a little lenient or, perhaps, inattentive in cutting such scenes, having allowed some of the iconic (and not so iconic) films to show the actors smoking pot.
Udta Punjab may not fly, but the characters in these films were soaring!
1. Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)
)
Released in 1971, this film sets the bar in films that depict drug usage. While in the song 'Dum Maaro Dum', people were shown smoking chillum (cannabis pipe), and the song was about smoking cannabis.
2. Dev. D (2009)
)
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, this film is a modern adaptation of the novel Devdas by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The storyline was basically the same, except the protagonist, played by Abhay Deol, was shown finding solace in drugs (a digression from the novel) along with alcohol, after he loses his love. The film was given an A certificate by the CBFC.
3. Go Goa Gone (2013)
)
That, my friends, is a joint that Kunal Khemu is holding and not a cigarette. A film about how a few friends end up on an island with a zombie infestation, has a bit of charlie and some toke here and there. Go Goa Gone was given the A certificate and passed without any cuts.
4. Lucia (2013)
)
Directed by Pawan Kumar, this film received numerous positive critical reviews and a U/A certificate. The plot is spun around a drug that induces dream-like hallucinations which turn into nightmares on discontinuing the drug. DMT, anyone?
5. Gangs of Wasseypur 2 (2012)
)
Gangs of Wasseypur 2, Nawazuddin Siddiqui with a chillum and a generous use of expletives. Regarded as one of the best of motion pictures to come out of the Hindi film industry, this film shows smoking a chillum (cannabis pipe) as an essential part of the protagonist's character. The film was certified A and only two scenes were cut from Part 1 and 2 of the film.
