The Bombay High Court on Thursday, heard objections raised by the producers of the film Udta Punjab against cuts suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification and also heard the body’s justifications for the same.
The High Court sought an explanation from the Censor Board over its insistence on deleting the Punjab signboard in the film that deals with drugs. The CBFC submitted that all 13 changes, including deletion of Punjab in the film title, suggested by its revising committee were justified and proper.
Phantom Films and producer Vikas Bahl moved the HC against the 13 suggestions.
A Division Bench of Justices S.C. Dharmadhikari and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi heard senior counsel Ravi Kadam appearing for the producers and Advocate Advait Sethna representing CBFC.
‘Standards should evolve’
The senior counsel said the cuts suggested by the body were central to the film. He argued that the standards of certification should evolve. The modern audience was mature and would not get depraved by references to drugs in the film.
Advocate Advait Sethna, on the other hand, said that the cuts were suggested on the grounds of sovereignty, integrity and morality laid down by the law. The film was not suitable for unrestricted exhibition, he said. The court then asked how the integrity of the state would be affected by just pulling down one signboard.
The court also mentioned the film Go, Goa, Gone and said movies had got away with much worse in the past. The court adjourned the matter to Friday.
