Udta Punjab trailer: SAD MLA says ‘film distorting facts’

Reacting to the trailer, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Khem Karan Virsa Singh Valtoha Monday said “this film is an outcome of a trend to defame Punjab and its youth”.

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Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Valtoha said, “I have no issues with the film if it suggests some measures to youth to stay away from drugs. We welcome a film that will promote a drug-free life and generate awareness. But the trailer that came out yesterday is a clear attempt to show Punjab as the state of drugs. It shows as if there is nothing more to Punjab but drugs. There’s a strange trend now to name Punjab whenever we talk of drugs. It has become a fashion of sorts.”

Valtoha also said that the “film is misrepresenting facts”.

“The trailer of the movie says 70 per cent people in Punjab are addicted to drugs. The claim is completely baseless.”

“Even the people of Punjab are intelligent, they know it is a tactic to defame Punjab. Let the film release and make headlines for a few days. After that, it will be forgotten as it is hypothetical,” he said.

In the trailer, Shahid Kapoor, who plays the role of a drug addict rockstar, is seen lying on the floor in a sub-conscious state. The voiceover says: “70 per cent of Punjab youth are drug addicts. If this is not stopped, Punjab will soon become like Mexico”.

Kareena Kapoor plays a doctor while Alia Bhatt, a hockey player, is forced to work as a labourer after her father dies of drug addiction.

The MLA added that the “government has no plan to ban the film in Punjab as of now but the matter will certainly not be ignored”.

“The trailer is out as of now, we will think over it only after seeing the film. The idea of filmmakers is just to create a buzz. We have no plan to ban the film in Punjab as of now,” he said.

SAD meanwhile distanced itself from the views of Valtoha.

Party spokesperson and education minister Daljit Singh Cheema said, “It is his personal views. We have nothing against the film Udta Punjab. It will be wrong to comment hypothetically till we do not watch the exact contents. Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal will take a call once the film is released.”