Udta Punjab row: Bombay HC clears film with just one cut, tells CBFC not to act like grandmother

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), however, submitted that all the 13 changes including deletion of Punjab in the film title suggested by its Revising Committee were justified and proper.

The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered the Censor board to clear Udta Punjab with just one cut and issue a fresh certificate to movie in two days. Refusing to stay the release of the film, as demanded by the board, the court directed the makers of the film to delete urination scene and asks for a revised disclaimer.

Talking to media after the verdict, producer Anurag Kahsyap’s lawyer said its a vindication of democracy. “We have to delete only one scene (urination). It is a vindication of democracy,” said the lawyer.

WATCH: Udta Punjab To Now Fly: Here’s What To Make Of The Controversy

The court earlier observed that the CBFC does not have power to censor films. It said that cuts suggested should be in consonance with Constitution and earlier Supreme Court orders.

READ | Udta Punjab verdict a slap on PM Modi’s ‘intolerant’ regime: Arvind Kejriwal

We have to delete only one scene(urination). It is a vindication of democracy: Anurag Kashyap’s lawyer #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/P1JHvBVZRP

Massively relieved today,looking to release the film on the scheduled date: Abhishek Chaubey,Director of #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/AlhvCO9csH

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

A judgement for the whole film industry not just us, its awesome: Madhu Mantena Verma,Co producer of #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/VIo4nM1xgG

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

Bombay HC: Cut no 6 are general words ( MP,MLA,Parliament etc),don’t refer to any outfit but reflect for general political work #UdtaPunjab

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

Bombay HC: Cut suggestion no 8 not necessary.. only one close up scene of injecting drug will not violate the mandate #UdtaPunjab

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

Bombay HC : Cut suggestion no 7 not needed.No need to delete the scratching scene in song no 3 suggested by CBFC.

Bombay HC:Punjab is land of green revolution,brave https://t.co/P0BICjn2DX sentence (Zameen banjar te aulaad kanjar) can’t affect that image

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2016

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“Udta Punjab is a movie depicting the drug menace based in a place. There is no mention of the word ‘censor’ in board. Board should use its powers as per Constitution and Supreme Court’s directions,” the bench observed.

Udta Punjab has been facing controversy ever since CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani ordered 13 cuts, which included cutting down references to Punjab, elections, political parties and the reference in the name of the film.

Anurag Kashyap, one of the producers of the film, appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), after a Bombay high court order helped them receive the official letter from the CBFC informing them about the cuts.