Because We Must Keep Talking About Punjab, The Udta Punjab

           

The whole film making industry and youth of the nation is engaged in this debate concerning the bans and cuts enforced on Udta Punjab. Here I have tried to capture the whole issue and provide my analysis on the same in just four simple questions dealing with the past, present and future of this mess called Udta Punjab.

• ·         What has happened to Udta Punjab?

Udta Punjab is a Bollywood crime thriller production with its plot based on the alarming drug abuse situation in Punjab. The film which features Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh in pivotal roles was highly anticipated by the Indian audiences because of its appealing cast and the ‘don’t talk about it’ issue that it deals with. Unfortunately, it was not just the Indian audiences, the Indian Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was also eagerly waiting for this Abhishek Chaubey Work. The makers of Udta Punjab were directed to bring in 89 changes in this movie. From the title to the setting, everything faced surgical blows by the sensor’s scissors. Little does the censor board know that such cruel demands can only result in complete alteration of the movie with the real essence of the motive left behind. But thankfully, Indian filmmakers know how to and have the courage to express.

                           

• ·         Why did this happen to Udta Punjab?

The inside story is shameful. Like every other nation, India has its own set of problems too, but what makes us stand out (sarcasm intended) is the constant effort of Indian system to bury the problem rather than terminating it. Udta Punjab had to face such implications because it was fearless to talk about a subject which was long guarded by the enemies of this nation. Films are a very strong medium of getting your message across and people know it. Highlighting such an issue in a high-budget movie will only disturb the balanced drug game that is being played in Punjab. And the enemies do not want that. With the Punjab elections coming closer, putting light on the pathetic situation of Punjab can prove to be fatal for the political sector. Therefore, the censor wishes to eliminate all the traces of Punjab in this movie, so that the reality remains clandestine.

• ·         What is happening to Udta Punjab?

With the Bombay high court reminding the CBFC their purpose of existence, we have signs that the freedom of expression will not be compromised upon in this country. The mandates of the CBFC remains to certify films and not change them. All this scrutiny and limelight is playing well for Udta Punjab’s publicity. The whole industry came together and their efforts yielded results when Udta Punjab got approved by the censor board with an ‘A’ certification after 13 cuts.  

• ·         What will actually happen to the real Udta Punjab?

The killing pressure and constant criticism has definitely compelled the Pahlaj Nihalani led censor board to give in. We may get one of those rare pleasures of experiencing the uncensored and uncut creativity of our country’s filmmakers. And this is the supposed happy ending for most of us but the reality is that the ultimate motive got lost in this mess. The target is not to get this movie released without the cuts, it is just one of the steps on our way to the actual target. The ultimate aim is to bring forth the apathetic condition in Punjab and work for its betterment. Just watching the movie will not help in the cause, working to drain out drugs from the system of our powerful Punjab is what we need. We have to help Punjab to come out of this crippling problem. It may be a movie or something else, but our ulterior motive should only be to bring forth the crisis that Punjab is going through. 

                                  

So yes, let’s talk about Punjab.