By YKA Staff:

‘Udta Punjab’ just can’t seem to catch a break. At first, there were reports that the film was going to be banned by the Central Board for Film Certification because of its storyline. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, it appears to be an exposé and a commentary on the thriving drug culture in Punjab.

Expletives aside, the film reveals a dark reality that the state of Punjab has been facing for years, with more than 70% of the youth in the state being addicted to drugs. With elections coming up, ‘Udta Punjab’ obviously puts the reputation of the current state government (led by Akali Dal’s Prakash Singh Badal) at great risk.

According to some reports, the Censor Board has made 89 cuts in the film, and now even wants all references to the state dropped from the film, including the title. The producers of the film, Phantom and Balaji, are now planning to take the Censor Board to court regarding this verdict. They have taken a joint decision to fight it out till the end, even if it means delaying the film’s release.

The film industry, as well as audiences, are clearly pissed off at the ridiculous demands of the Censor Board and are taking to social media to express their anger at the blatant suppression of free speech and ‘censoring of reality’.

A few samples to show that Twitter is buzzing loud (and angry).

The film’s producer is visibly angry (and has a point).

There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB .. And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016

The director of ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ predicts a scary future.

I guess the next step will be to submit scripts for censorship. #UdtaPunjabCensored

— Nikkhil Advani (@nikkhiladvani) June 7, 2016

The director of ‘Aligarh’ speaks from experience.

Delusion or collusion? Why is the establishment so scared of films that mirror reality? #UdtaPunjabCensored

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) June 6, 2016

Can’t fight the reality.

According to Censor board if people don't get to watch #UdtaPunjabCensored, they'll believe punjab youth drinks gomutra & do not smoke weed

— Sayan Basu (@SayanBasuTweets) June 7, 2016

“The joke is on us.”

Let's not show the movie coz we failed as a govt & voters will realise it. Thee joke is on us.. The voters #UdtaPunjabCensored

— Rahul Kumar (@boredkumar) June 7, 2016

Who’s to blame?

You know income tax exists.
You don't pay it.
You get caught in a raid.
You're fined.
You blame the system.
Phuddu kaun?#UdtaPunjabCensored

— Akshaye Rathi (@akshayerathi) June 7, 2016

Damn, this hurt.

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

Any other alternatives for ‘Punjab’, anyone?

Udta that state next to Haryana.

A bit long but I think this might work.#UdtaPunjabCensored

— Aadar Malik (@TheAadarGuy) June 6, 2016

MP saab has a point.

Instead of censoring the movie to hide the failures of Punjab Govt,action should be taken against the Drug Mafia. #UdtaPunjabCensored

— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) June 6, 2016

Are you listening, Censor Board?

Shootout at wadala
Shootout at lokhandwala
Once upon a time in mumbai
Does that insult Mumbai ? NO,
Then why #UdtaPunjabCensored ?

— Gita S. Kapoor (@GitaSKapoor) June 6, 2016

“Censoring reality amounts to delusion.”

#UdtaPunjab speaks of the reality of our times….censoring reality amounts to delusion…..the fraternity has to stand by what's right!!

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) June 6, 2016

Knock knock, Mr Nihalani.

" Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance". Is Pahalaj Nihalani listening ?

— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) June 6, 2016

This is hilarious.

@rameshsrivats lets make sanskari #UdtaPunjab , maa twade vaste fresh weed leke aaya tera puttar. #udtapunjabcensored

— Ratan Gera (@ratanalmostgera) June 6, 2016

Oops.

Censor Board wants to remove Punjab from Udta Punjab. Movie hai ya IPL? Punjab ko pehle hi baahar nikaal dete hain.

— Sagar Kasam (@sagarcasm) 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

Must agree.

Difficult to beat the Censor Board Chairperson. He is good at his game. #UdtaPunjabCensored pic.twitter.com/Qpl9HBJzjt

— Antriksh Manav (@SumitPurohit) June 6, 2016

Anyone who says that drugs are not a problem in punjab is either unaware,complicit or has malafide intention #UdtaPunjab @_phoenix_fire_ 👍🏼

— soha ali khan (@sakpataudi) June 6, 2016

May be Pahlaj Nihalani & CBFC are right. Untruthful to name the film #UdtaPunjab It should be renamed Doobta Punjab instead

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 6, 2016

The censor board seems to be telling us there is no drug problem in Punjab? Which cuckoo land are they living in? #UdtaPunjab

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 6, 2016

Isn't there a movie being made called Flying Jatt..? Cant begin to imagine what they're going to do to that! #CensorBoardWoes #UdtaPunjab

— Rajeev Masand (@RajeevMasand) June 6, 2016

You may feel it's not fair to remove Punjab from Udta Punjab.

But wait till Maneka Gandhi tells to remove Tommy from Tommy Singh.

— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 6, 2016

To know more about Punjab’s problem with drugs, read: Punjab’s Youth Is ‘Corroding’ From Drugs And Violence, While The Government Sleeps