Makers of Udta Punjab and the censor board are currently caught in a bitter row over getting the movie approved.
Highlights
- 'Delete the name of dog as Jacky Chain' among several cuts demanded
- Remove references to Punjab, its towns and other words: Censor Board
- Shots of drugs being abused and over 20 expletives asked to be removed
You may be an adult, but the Pahlaj Nihalani-led film certification board believes you don't have it in you to take a fictional Bollywood film with a dog named 'Jacky Chain'.
Among the long list of cuts in the controversy-hit film
Udta Punjab demanded by the Central Board of Film Certification or CBFC, at cut number 11, the board writes, "Delete the name of dog as 'Jacky Chain'". The reason, it would appear, is that it's named after Hollywood actor Jackie Chan.
Also asked to delete is a signboard with the name 'Punjab' and wherever the words Punjab, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Tarantaran, Jashanpura, Ambesar, Ludhiana and Moga appear.
Mr Nihalani however told NDTV,
they have not asked 'Punjab' to be deleted from the title but only in the film.
But for the CBFC are words like 'election, 'MP', 'party' in party worker, 'MLA', 'Punjab' and 'Parliament' a clear no-no, the note suggests.
Pahlaj Nihalani has alleged the makers of the film have been funded by the Aam Aadmi Party.
There are over 20 "expletives" which the board does not think are apt for adults to hear and included among them is also "
kutti" or "bitch".
Udta Punjab is a fictional movie according to their makers but is based on the widespread use of drugs and narcotics in Punjab which has been well-documented.
But the CBFC also doesn't want viewers to see how drugs are injected and hence all such "close up shots" have been asked to be chopped off.
The Congress and AAP have alleged that Mr Nihalani has been demanding these cuts at the behest of the BJP, whose supporter the censor chief is. They claim the drug menace shows the ruling Akali Dal-BJP government in poor light and it could go against the alliance in 2017 Punjab elections.
Mr Nihalani has denied the allegations.
However, the CBFC has demanded that the disclaimer in the movie be changed. Though it is unclear if the line was an addition by the body, the new disclaimer includes the statement: "We acknowledge the battle against drugs being fought by the government and police".