'Udta Punjab' to be screened for Shyam Benegal

Mumbai: An exclusive screening of Abhishek Chaubey’s controversy-ridden Udta Punjab has been organised for eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal, on Wednesday, who heads the government-appointed censor board revamp committee. The move comes in the wake of the movie’s producer Anurag Kashyap slamming the board for its apparent issues with the film, which deals with problem of substance abuse in Punjab. [caption id=“attachment_2544562” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Shyam Benegal. Wikimedia Commons[/caption] National Award-winning director Benegal said once he watches the movie, he will be in a position to comment on the controversy surrounding it. “I don’t know the actual matter as I have not seen the film. I will see it tomorrow and then only I can say something. Before that, it is not fair on my part to comment or say anything on it (cuts and issues raised by censor board),” he told PTI. The board has purportedly raised certain objections to the Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer regarding references to Punjab, following which the movie may have to go through some changes. Many Bollywood filmmakers such as Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt have come out in support of Udta Punjab, saying that censoring it is not the solution.