'Udta Punjab' gets wings, but CBFC grounds film on quota stir

Board Suggests 100 Cuts From Gujarati Film

The makers of

Udta Punjab

may have heaved a sigh of relief following a go-ahead from Bombay high court, but a lesser known film unit is anxious over the fate of their Gujarati film `Salagto Sawaal Anamat` (Burning question of reservation). The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has questioned the motives of filmmakers for choosing the theme and raised concerns over the protagonist's resemblance to Patel quota warrior Hardik Patel, who is facing sedition charges.

'Udta Punjab' can be released with just one cut: HC

Jaypratapsinh Chauhan

, co-producer of the film with a modest budget, said they immediately filed an appeal against the decision of CBFC �� they were communicated the cuts last week -before a review committee of CBFC, which has scheduled a hearing on Tuesday. Besides suggesting over 100 cuts, the CBFC, which is headed by controversial filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani, has also asked the film makers to remove references to

B R Ambedkar

from the movie.

Incidentally, the film was scheduled to be released on June 17, the same day Udta Punjab will hit theatres. ���We will have to delay the release now,��� said

Rajesh Gohil

, director of the film, who has made seven Gujarati films.

The board has also asked the film-makers to remove the word `Patidar' from each and every scene as well as contents which bear similarity with quota agitation.

Gohil said that a committee of CBFC, after seeing the movie, asked to cut the word

Patidar

or Patel and also the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar. ���This is an attempt to curb freedom of expression and creativity . I tried to convince them that the film is not exactly based on Hardik Patel. But they argued that the character of protagonist of the film looked similar to the jailed quota leader,��� Gohil said. ���The censor board member had told us that since a case of sedition is pending against Hardik we cannot glorify his character. This is not true because my film is based on quota agitation not Hardik,��� Gohil added. The film talks about Dipak Patel, who faces hardships due to the existing reservation system.Another character of the film resembles Alpesh Thakor, an OBC leader. . The filmmakers are prepared to move court.���If I will remove the word Patidar from the film or name of Ambedkar, the soul of film would be gone. I cannot allow the censor board to suppress a filmmaker,��� he said.

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