Massively relieved: 'Udta Punjab' director on Bombay HC verdict

As the Bombay High Court on Monday cleared "Udta Punjab" for release with one cut, director Abhishek Chaubey says he is "massively relieved".

"Massively relieved today, looking to release the film on the scheduled date," Chaubey told the media here.

"Udta Punjab" co-producer Anurag Kashyap's lawyer said the victory is all the more important as the film tells a relevant tale.

"The film is relevant about what's happening in Punjab. Our victory is primarily that we based our film on Punjab and we are not shying away from it. That is why we went to court," the lawyer said.

He added that there was a "word of caution" for filmmakers in terms of "verbage".

"There is a word of caution for filmmakers in term of verbage and its use that can be there... It is left upon us in a sense (that) the industry has to decide what kind of usage we can have."

Phantom Films, which has co-produced "Udta Punjab" with Balaji Motion Pictures, had moved the Bombay High Court, seeking a copy of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Revising Committee order suggesting changes to the film set for a June 17 release.

The Revising Committee's order suggested 13 changes, besides deletion of references to Punjab as it was allegedly not in conformity with the Cinematograph Act. Now the High Court has given a verdict that the film can release with an 'A' certificate, with one cut and three disclaimers.

The film stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor-Khan and Diljit Dosanjh and deals with the drug menace in Punjab.

--IANS

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