'Udta Punjab' producers move Bombay High Court seeking Censor Board order

Amid the controversy over drugthemed Bollywood film Udta Punjab its producers moved the Bombay High Court today seeking a copy of the order passed by Censor Boards Review Committee purportedly suggesting cuts in the movie and removal of reference to Punjab in itAlso readDoobta Punjab Twitterati outrage as Censor Board cuts Udta Punjabs wingsA still from Udta PunjabThe petition said that producers have not yet been given a copy of the order by the government or the Censor Board and that unless they had a copy of the order in hand how could they proceed in the matter to undertake the amendments purportedly suggested by the Committee on May 3The movie is slated for release on June 17Also readAnurag Kashyap on Udta Punjab storm Its like living in North KoreaThe petition filed by Phantom Films a production and distribution company established by Anurag Kashyap sought a direction from the high court to the government and the Censor Board to hand over a copy of the review committees decision on the objectionable scenes and dialogues in the filmThe petition filed through law solicitor film Naik Naik and Co is slated to come up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice S C Dharmadhikari this afternoonThe makers of the film are said to have been asked by the Review Committee of Censor Board to remove all references to Punjab and make 89 cuts Kashyap however said they are waiting for an official letter from the Board on the issueAlso readBollywood stands united against censorship of Udta PunjabThe Shahid Kapoor Alia Bhatt Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh starrer movie that delves into how the youth in Punjab have succumbed to drugs has also unleashed political sparring prompting Kashyap to ask parties to stay away from the censorship rowPunjab goes to polls next yearKashyap had yesterday hit out at Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani calling him oligarch and dictator and that it was like living in North KoreaHe got the support of several filmmakers including Karan Johar Mahesh Bhatt Ram Gopal Varma and Mukesh BhattIt is a dark day for freedom of expression and creativity in the country Mukesh Bhatt said calling Nihalani a stooge of the governmentThe Bombay Velvet director took to Twitter to vent his ire at Censor Board and said there is no sense of freedomI always wondered what it felt like to live in North Korea Ab to plane pakadney ki bhi zaroorat nahin Kashyap posted on TwitterAlso readUdta Punjab controversy Anurag Kashyap takes on Censor BoardI request Congress AAP and other political parties to stay out of my battle Its my Rights vs the Censorship I speak only on my behalf he saidThe AAP and Congress had earlier accused Punjabs ruling SADBJP alliance of exercising its influence to censor the movie a charge denied by the state government