After a long yet brave fight put up by the makers of Udta Punjab against the CBFC, they could heave a sigh of relief last evening after the Bombay High Court demanded only a single cut and a couple of changes before its release, on Friday. However, it seems that the state of Punjab is still not convinced about the film, as the Punjab High Court has demanded the screening of the same.
From what we hear, Justice M Jeyapaul, Haryana and Punjab HC has issued a notice to CBFC seeking an explanation as to why the screening of the film hasn't been controlled. Advocate Watan Sharma has filed a petition demanding the film screening as he believes that the film has portrayed the state as well as Punjabis in a negative light and that the film can disrupt the law and order of the state, followed by which the Punjab HC has decided to arrive at a decision wherein they will be sending advocate Sujay Kantawala as a sort of amicus curiae (friend of the court) to view the film. Sujay will be submitting his report on the film, to the court on the next hearing, that is on June 16, which is a day prior to the release of the film.
While the Punjab HC questioned if this petition has any direct bearing to the case of the Bombay HC, it was being learnt that the case in Mumbai dealt with the petition signed by the makers against the revising committee and its censorship, whilst this one concentrates on the exhibition of the content. Further, the Punjab HC has also asked the makers to reply to the petitioner over the same.