From #UdtaPunjab to #UdtaPM: Which Side Are You On?

Is the Censor Board’s decisions hurting creativity in Bollywood while honing Tweeple’s comic genius?

When Udta Punjab’s director Abhishek Chaubey decided to paint Punjab on a realistic canvas, he may not have foreseen the fire-fighting he would have to do with the Censor Board and the Punjab Government before the film’s release.

Also Read: Punjab’s Drug Problem Deserves “Excessive Swearing”, Mr Nihalani

The Shahid Kapoor-starrer has run into fresh trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification. The producers are likely to move court against the Revising Committee of the CBFC ruling asking them to remove all references to Punjab from the film, including the title.

This is what the Prime Minister had to say back in February:

Art can't have any restrictions or limits: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 13, 2016

And here’s how social media responded to the unceremonious cuts.

There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB .. And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016

Maybe if they re-applied for the #UdtaPunjab censor certificate, but this time as a documentary, they would probably get it.

— Sunil Rajguru (@sunilrajguru) June 7, 2016

#ShameCensor #UdtaPunjab meaningful cinema goes in dustbin seriously!! Ppl dnt complin y we r making ghatiya film pic.twitter.com/ONkhRqwMbW

— MohdSaifullahTauheed (@SaifTauheed) May 28, 2016

Pic1- #UdtaPunjab
Pic2- #UdtaPunjabCensored pic.twitter.com/u2m7TT38w8

— MumBaekar.. (@katamulgi) June 7, 2016

#UdtaPunjab row makes me think the Censor Board is stoned. 'Weed' these crazies out now :-)

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 6, 2016

Censor has asked for 89 cuts in #UdtaPunjab, all they allowed is 'balle bale makke di roti, haddipa bhangra pao ji'. That's real Punjab. No?

— Rofl Udta Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) June 6, 2016

Censor Board wants Punjab removed from Udta Punjab.
Thank God these guys weren't around when Bombay to Goa was released.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 6, 2016

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap’s Tweets Reveal His Anger Over Udta Punjab Cuts

Basically Censor Board asked the producer to turn off the location. #UdtaPunjab

— maithun (@Being_Humor) June 6, 2016

Since Udta Punjab can no longer have Punjab in it, let's help the censor board with new titles.
My suggestion - Tenu kee, BC?

— Sting Ray (@Purba_Ray) June 6, 2016

Censor: Movie ka name kya hai?
Director: Udta Punjab.
Censor: wtf,
Director: Udta Pun Jab We Met.
Censor: Ok permission granted.

— Chika Pikaa Rikaa (@Simply_neev) June 6, 2016

Some Facebook peeps’ outrage:

Ban or No Ban If Anyone is Flying, It Is Our PM; or so Twitter Thinks

The middle class is wary & terrified at ostentatious expenditure PM spends on his Unfruitful foreign junkets #UdtaPM pic.twitter.com/Y3d7WXkVIo

— Maharashtra Congress (@mahcongress) June 7, 2016

So when will this one come2use? PMModi should sometimes uses the services of his Wax model too for visits. #UdtaPM pic.twitter.com/ieVKOCpgDo

— Maharashtra Congress (@mahcongress) June 7, 2016

This is how our PM is flying :- #UdtaPM @ajaymaken @JhaSanjay @sanjaynirupam @priyankac19 pic.twitter.com/AlFCI6bmGG

— Dilawar Khan (@DilawarIT) June 7, 2016