'Relieved' Udta Punjab director vows to fight for film' release on scheduled date

With the Bombay High Court clearing the controversial movie 'Udta Punjab' with just one cut, a visibly relieved Abhishek Chaubey, who is the director of this film, lauded the courage and hard work by the lawyers and producers and said that his team would now fight for the release on its scheduled date on June 17.

"Today I salute the courage of my producers and the hard work that my lawyers have made and this film has been passed. We will fight for its release on the 17th. I am terribly pleased with the verdict and I am relieved," Chaubey told the media here.

However, he stated that the situation was not fully devoid of conflict as of now and expressed hope that the films are viewed keeping the context in mind in the future and not in terms of any blanket.

"I have no message to Pahlaj Nihalani, only my best wishes," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, 'Udta Punjab' co-producer Madhu Mentena said that the judgement was a victory for the entire Bollywood industry and not just for the film.

Producer Anurag Kashyap's lawyer Ameet Naik told the media that if the decision is challenged and taken to the Supreme Court then the 'Udta Punjab' team will defend the film tooth and nail yet again.

Asserting that there is no mention of the word "censor" in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Bombay High Court earlier today pulled up the board for demanding 89 cuts in 'Udta Punjab' to grant a certificate for its release, while directing it to use its power as per the constitutional provisions and directions issued by the Supreme Court.

The High Court observed, "There is no mention of the word 'censor' in the board. The board should use its powers under the constitutional framework and the Supreme Court's directions."

The High Court added 'Udta Punjab' is a movie, which depicts ill-effects of the drug menace.

"We don't find anything in the film that shows Punjab in bad light or affects the sovereignty or integrity of India as claimed by the CBFC. Creative freedom should not be unnecessarily curbed. Nobody can dictate to a filmmaker about the content of his film," the court observed.

Following are some other observations made by the High Court on 'Udta Punjab':

1. Filmmakers don't support drugs.

2. Characters show facets of menace.

3. No reason to delete Punjab from sign board.

4. Drugs availability highlighted.

5. Downfall of a rockstar depicted.

6. Cops struggling with drug menace.

7. CBFC not empowered by law to censor films as the word censor is not included in the Cinematograph Act.