Twitter hits Pahlaj Nihalani for a six over Udta Punjab
Udta Punjab. What can be said about the film that hasn't already been said? The film, starring Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh, as it stands, hasn't been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). From the time of the first meet of the Censor Board, till today, the producers have been asked to make 40 cuts, then 89 and then Pahlaj Nihalani himself said that 73% of the movie has been cleared.
The movie, about the prevelant drug problem in the the state of Punjab, went from the CBFC to the Revising Committee. It's become a political battle with the upcoming Punjab Elections in 2017. In fact, reports have suggested that the BJP government is banning the movie because they want to "save the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) - BJP combine government in the state, from embarrassment in the poll year".
There was a 'suggestion' made by the Censor Board to the filmmakers that along with the 89 cuts, they also remove any reference to Punjab from the movie. Now, short of shooting the movie over again, that isn't possible.
Anurag Kashyap went on a rant on Twitter (http://www.catchnews.com/bollywood-news/udta-punjab-anurag-kashyap-says-bjp-govt-messing-with-the-wrong-person-1465355419.html) and given many a interview to news channels.
If all of that wasn't enough, the filmmakers had to approach the Bombay High Court for clearance. If that fails, the next step is the Supreme Court. On the afternoon of 8 June, a group of filmmakers - Zoya Akthar, Mukesh Bhatt, Satish Kaushik, Ekta Kapoor, Imtiaz Ali and others - held a press conference in Bombay to adress the issue. As NDTV's ticker ran, "Filmmakers back Kashyap."
Slated to release on 17 June, it is looking increasingly likely that the movie's date will have to be pushed back. News18 had reported that the movie was apparently being pushed back to 15 July. Or maybe, Narendra Modi, upon his return from the meeting his best friend forever Barack Obama, might just address this issue and end the controversy once and for all.
Amidst all this, Twitter users have been having a lot of fun with various trends - #UdtaPunjab, #UdtaPM, #PahlajNihalini, #UdtaPunjabCensored, #BombayHighCourt, #ZoyaAkthar, 'We support Udta Punjab', 73%, 89, Justice for Udta Punjab and many more.
Here are some of the best tweets from each of the trends:
1. #UdtaPunjab
How to release #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/F7i9aImRnY
— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) June 8, 2016
I hope Ashutosh doesn't tweet on #UdtaPunjab . He may make a typo by adding a 'Ch' before the name of the movie...
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) June 6, 2016
Basically Censor Board asked the producer to turn off the location. #UdtaPunjab
— Maithun - TNP (@Being_Humor) June 6, 2016
After 50 cuts & change in name Udta Punjab will be left with a National Anthem, documentary of gutkha Mukesh, a sanskrit shloka & 'The End'
— Ra_Bies (@Ra_Bies) June 6, 2016
They should release the movie Udta Punjab on Snapchat.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 6, 2016
Removing Punjab from Udta Punjab is like removing Titanic from Titanic.
— Gautam (@gautamverma23) June 6, 2016
Since Udta Punjab can no longer have Punjab in it, let's help the censor board with new titles.
— Ray Stings (@Purba_Ray) June 6, 2016
My suggestion - Tenu kee, BC?
Censor board decides that 'Udta Punjab' can't mention the name Punjab. Since the movie is about getting high, call it Udta Pahlaj maybe?
— Mihir Bijur (@MihirBijur) June 6, 2016
Censor Board asks for 89 cuts & 'Punjab' to be dropped from the title
— Terribly Tiny Tales (@terriblytiny) June 8, 2016
Jenai Dalal writes a #Live tale on #UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/lZp7zw69y9
Don't outrage against Nihalani, they would replace him with Anupam Kher, who would then ask why Udta Punjab? Why not Udte Pandit?
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) June 8, 2016
2. #UdtaPM:
Yes, this wasn't directly related to the movie, but it was a perfect trend for Modi's nth tour abroad.
How many times has Modi tweeted about Obama: 33+
— Navin Khaitan (@navinkhaitan) June 8, 2016
How many times has Obama tweeted about Modi: ZERO#UdtaPM #ModiInUS
The Censor Board, Udta Punjab, #UdtaPM.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) June 7, 2016
And, why CBFC needs a rating on itself. pic.twitter.com/1Zu8RoSaUh
The middle class is wary & terrified at ostentatious expenditure PM spends on his Unfruitful foreign junkets #UdtaPM pic.twitter.com/Y3d7WXkVIo
— Maharashtra Congress (@mahcongress) June 7, 2016
Looking-for-handbag position #UdtaPM pic.twitter.com/o4lbL3U436
— Baba Manhattani (@BabaGlocal) June 7, 2016
PA: Sir after #UdtaPunjab title issue, #UdtaPM is trending..
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) June 7, 2016
Censor Officer: Ohh, pls ask them to trend #UdtaM only, P could mean Punjab too
Lets fly #UdtaPM pic.twitter.com/XXNeO4ddS9
— Fakeer बाबा (@skull_baba) June 7, 2016
3. Pahlaj Nihalini
If Pahlaj Nihalani were the Censor Board chief at the time "Murder" was released, the movie would've been just opening and closing credits.
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) June 8, 2016
I just can't remember Pahlaj Nihalani's spelling. Everytime I copy paste it.
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) June 8, 2016
Pahlaj Nihalani deserves a statue at Tussaud's. Only that the wax should be poured on him.
— Bachelor Bajirao (@bizzarebhide) June 8, 2016
Pahlaj Nihalani had a problem with kissing scenes in Spectre. It's a wonder the man has children.
— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) June 8, 2016
Pahlaj Nihalani will open Kim Jong Un Institute of Advance Film censoring someday
— Priyanka Lahiri (@lahirip) May 28, 2016
The only thing that needs to be banned is Pahlaj Nihalani from CBFC. #UdtaPunjab
— Ragnar (@PshycoPaaji) May 28, 2016
Didn't realise Nihlani's job description was PR consultant to our states https://t.co/77AyXV7yPK
— Rohan (@mojorojo) June 8, 2016
Sent a film to #CensorBoard of a batsman struggling to play bowling just wide outside off-stump. #PahlajNihalani recommended several cuts.
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) June 8, 2016
4. #UdtaPunjabCensored
Superb take on #UdtaPunjabCensored by @theflyingsikh https://t.co/ayILIlzMjz
— Mayank Aggarwal (@journomayank) June 8, 2016
89 cuts. Are you kidding me, good Sir? That's more cuts than all our bruised knees from the 90s childhood. Combined. #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Ushnota Paul (@journojuno) June 7, 2016
#UdtaPunjabCensored This is what I feel about it: pic.twitter.com/sgGp1aJYLr
— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) June 7, 2016
Film on drug culture. Censor. Film on homosexuality. Censor. Film on Kashmir. Censor. No wonder we get Housefull sequels #UdtaPunjabCensored
— Sneha Mahale (@randomcards) June 7, 2016
5. 73%
After 90 cuts. How 73% can be approved? Is he nuts. Pagal aadmi kuch bhi bole jaa raha hai. UDTA PUNJAB GIRTA PAHLAJ https://t.co/yb72R2oTlU
— Anagha Sharma (@Anaghaa_) June 8, 2016
NO ! Nihalani is lying... 73% length measure bhi karli ? Lol 😁
— Rajat Patil (@Rajat8574) June 8, 2016
UDTA PUNJAB GIRTA PAHLAJ https://t.co/f1LXoL3n27
6. 89
First published: 8 June 2016, 17:53 ISTEven Shahid Kapoor's body in Udta Punjab does not have 89 cuts.
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) June 8, 2016