Udta Punjab 1, Pahlaj Nihalani 0: HC passes Kashyap's film with single cut

The Udta Punjab verdict is out. From 89 suggested cuts (by the CBFC) to 1 final cut, and an ‘A’ certificate, Bombay HC ordered that the film will release as planned on 17 June. Over two weeks now, Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab has been mired in controversy over CBFC’s claims that the film depicts the state of Punjab and its drug issues in a negative light. The film has been battling out the cuts made by CBFC in the Bombay High Court. (Read what happened in courts on day one and two of the hearing.) [caption id=“attachment_2825038” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Udta Punjab poster[/caption] On Monday noon, the hearing begun,  and the Bombay HC judge’s observations were critical of the CBFC and mostly in agreement with the petitioner. The Judge observed that Udta Punjab portrays the downfall of a rockstar, and the easy availability of drugs and its menace has been highlighted in the film. Overall, the Bombay HC stated that the censor board has no right to interfere on how makers of a film show or highlight an issue. Since the makers have categorically stated that do not intend to support drugs or glamourise drug use, there’s no reason to censor. Here are the observations made by the Judge on the case and the suggested cuts, which lead to the verdict: