From Big B, Aamir Khan to Anurag Kashyap: Who said what on the 'Udta Punjab' controversy

New Delhi: The Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) demand to chop ‘Punjab’ from the title of movie ‘Udta Punjab’ has united the entire film fraternity. The team of Udta Punjab and IFTDA (Indian Film and Television Directors' Association) today held a press conference in a show of solidarity for freedom of expression.

At the press conference, many renowned personalities like Mahesh Bhatt, Zoya Akhtar, Rahul Dholakia, Mukesh Bhatt, Imtiaz Ali, Sudhir Mishra stood in support of Udta Punjab’s team that included co-producers Anurag Kahsyap, Ekta Kapoor, Vikas Bahl, director Abhishek Choubey and actors Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

The filmmakers came down heavily on the way CBFC is functioning, with Mukesh Bhatt demanding that Pahlaj Nihlani be removed from the chairman’s seat because he doesn’t deserve it.

Voicing their support for freedom of expression, here is what they said on the censorship of Udta Punjab:

Mahesh  Bhatt: We can't turn into a Saudi Arabia where there is opulence but no free thought in society. It is a dangerous trend of free censorship that will start taking a major space of writer, producer and director’s mind. This free censorship kills the thought in the mind before it gets a structure.  

Zoya Akhtar: The work of CBFC is to give a film certification, not cut it. You can say U/A, A or U. You cannot certify A and ask for 89 cuts. What are you saying to the adults of the nation?

Anand L Rai:  Mujhpe itna shaq school me bhi nai kiya gaya tha (No one doubted me so much, even when I was in school). Darra diya hai, basically. They are responsible people and must have thought something before making a film like this.

Ramesh Taurani: I don’t think this should have been an issue. When we are asking for an A certificate, then there is no need for cuts.

Rahul Dholakia: Cinema today is what happens in the society. We do not imagine facts and put it in the movie. The censor board should be clean and clear and let the society decide what they want to see.

Sudhir Mishra: It is a very great start that we are standing in solidarity. The name is not censor board but the Central Board of Film Certification; they should not censor but certify films. It is a weird situation. Ultimately, it will be released on Internet but it will affect the producers. I think, you want to give a message that no one should put money in such movies, but I won’t be scared of this.

Also Read: Udta Punjab row: CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani hits back, says cuts and name change justified

Abhishek Choubey: If we give up now, then no filmmaker can make a movie on real issues.

Shahid Kapoor: We all need to support the message this film is sending. The youth of the country should know what happens when you indulge in drugs.

Ashoke Pandit: Demand that Pahlaj Nihalani apologize for this statement (Anurag Kashyap taking money from AAP), insult to entire film industry.

Anurag Kashyap: It is sad that we have to justify our honesty. I feel ashamed in even defending myself on such an allegation (taking money from AAP). Give the right to reject a movie to the viewers, how can one man decide it for the entire nation. He (Pahlaj Nihalani) has a systematic way of saying that don’t make a movie like this, but we want our right to do that which is why we are sitting here.

Imtiaz Ali: Anything that attacks freedom of expression is very frustrating and we don’t have to tolerate it unnecessarily. I am not here because I have friends in the movie.

Satish Kaushik: Normally film industry offers silent support, for the first time we all have come out openly on an issue.

Mukesh Bhatt: I appeal to the ministry to remove Pahlaj Nihalani, he doesn't deserve to be the CBFC chief. If this movie is not released, almost Rs 60 crore will go in loss, who will pay that amount?  

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: No place for censorship or scissors, rather than censoring we should rate the film.

Amitabh Bachchan: Killing creativity will kill our soul. Film makers can approach tribunal and courts, only problem is censoring comes near the release of a film. I am not aware of the issue, but would like to say that don't try to kill creativity

Javed Akhtar: Censor board action has always been absurd. Problem lies with quality & qualification of judges; There is a need to have a good panel on Censor Board.

Aamir Khan: It’s very unfortunate. I’m pained that the film is going through this. As per my knowledge, it is based on drug addiction and delivers a social message. I don’t think there is anything that should be cut or audience should be kept away.

Milind Soman: I'd definitely like to see it, I am sensible enough to watch a movie & make up my own mind what it means.

Priyanka Chopra: In democracy you cannot dictate what one should eat or watch a movie on a social issue.

SS Rajamouli: My sympathies lie with the filmmakers as I am a filmmaker myself. The simple logic is how can 6-7 or 10 members decide what is good or not good for the entire nation. Being a family head, I should decide what is good for me, my family or my kids to watch, not someone else.

Kangana Ranaut: Cinema is all about detailing. We need our own creative freedom and we are definately sort of pressed against the wall and there is so much outrage. I hope it will be addressed and hope there won’t be such incidents in future. We do not ought to have that sort of parental attitude towards audiences that we need to protect them.

Anupam Kher: "#CBFC role in #UdtaPunjabControversy is most shocking. Cinema is a reflection of society. Sometimes a portrayal can help bring a change," the 61-year-old actor tweeted.

Salim Khan: This is the 1st time the industry is united.Else the producer fought his battle alone against the whims and outdated morality of the censors

Mukesh Khanna: “I differ from people who say we have freedom of expression. If due to your freedom of expression, our students are going wayward and the landscape of our country’s security is being altered, I would stop them. There has to be censorship. You can’t make anything. I am against it. Here in our country a film like Grand Masti runs and becomes a superhit. People say it’s their freedom of expression. My foot. One should make good films.