We have seen repeated instances of arbitrary censoring of content in recent times and have also looked at why this is undesirable and against the spirit of democracy. While some censoring follows the will and the supposed morality of the few ensconced in their positions as part of the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) there are also those who sense political opportunism in the matter. So while Pahlaj Nihalani and his band of merry cinema shearers have a problem with the cuss words in Udta Punjab, the political class has found another way to target the film.
Drop ‘Punjab’ from the title
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After the CBFC proposed 89 cuts to the film, wanted an entire song deleted and wanted to cut visuals of drug consumption, major political parties of Punjab have also had something to say about the film ahead of polls that are to be held in less than nine months. The Akali Dal and the ruling SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal)-BJP alliance have protested against the film for various reasons.
It is thought that some politicians have difficulty with the attention that the state’s endemic drug abuse problem will inevitably attract with big stars such as Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor who star in the film. The SAD objects because it is felt that the Punjabi community is being ‘defamed’ by virtue of the movie’s title and location. Now the film’s producers are being asked to remove all references to Punjab in the film: its cities, locations, and the word Punjab in the title as well.
Twitter reactions to the censorship moves
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Predictably Twitter and the Twitterati had much to say about the proposed cuts and attempts to censor the film. The typical ostrich like tendency of our political class to avoid and deny problems that exist was also underlined. Here is a sample of the best tweets –
Well known journals and journalists had this to say
Many were angry and felt that there were many other films that needed to be ‘censored’
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Some were at their sarcastic best
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And others worried that after all the cuts and snips, there wouldn’t be much a film left to view.
The real question here is why is a film being targeted for highlighting (not glorifying) an existing problem? Why does no one have a problem with the many, many Punjabi songs and videos that feature men harassing women, drinking and misbehaving and even getting violent? It’s OK to sing about (and dance to) Chaar Botal Vodka and about that Brown Girl and the short dress that Blue Eyes wears but God forbid that we take a realistic look at a very real, very deep-rooted social problem.
Author – Reena Daruwalla
