This week, the Central Board of Film Certification recommended 89 cuts to Anurag Kashyap's Udta Punjab, a film that highlights the state's skyrocketing drug problem.
Bollywood stars, known to be frustratingly silent when it comes to protesting social wrongs, have finally had enough of the CBFC's arbitrary, politically motivated censorship:
#UdtaPunjab
Overwhelmed with all the support #UdtaPunjab #freedomofexpression #drugsdimaadi
#UdtaPunjab speaks of the reality of our times....censoring reality amounts to delusion.....the fraternity has to stand by what's right!!
" Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance". Is Pahalaj Nihalani listening ?
When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar,you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say. #UdtaPunjab
U know a lot of people in our fraternity speak up for other causes, it's time we stood up for our own. #UdtaPunjab deserves a proper release
Power is the most dangerous addiction of all & someone in the CBFC seems to be tripping hard on Lassi in the Sky with Diamonds. #UdtaPunjab
Those who believe films can empower, educate and inspire change NEVER give in or give up. #CBFC #UdtaPunjab
Those who say dat der r no drugs or illegal medicines easily available in Punjab..dont kno de real pain of punjab
Anyone who says that drugs are not a problem in punjab is either unaware,complicit or has malafide intention #UdtaPunjab @_phoenix_fire_ 👍🏼
You throttle an artist you throttle democracy... #UdtaPunjab
Govt which wants to ban Udta Punjab shud realise that by banning a Udta film they actually trying to ban Udta truth
There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB .. And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs
Delusion or collusion? Why is the establishment so scared of films that mirror reality? #UdtaPunjabCensored
Are we (censor board) not reading the disclaimer at the beginning of films. It's fictional na? Hmmm.., maybe it isn't? #UdtaPunjabCensored
Ashoke Pandit, a member of the censor board, also tweeted out in support for the film.
Rahul Gandhi should google & find out as to how many films have bn banned by his family & how they hv treated the #FilmIndustry. #UdtaPunjab