“Udta Punjab”- Take it as a feedback to improve the things
Despite the Indian Cinema comprises of a realm of matured, liberal minded experiment oriented people, who do not hesitate trying new things as many of the films made by these open minded people crash into controversies with one or the other reasons, “Udta Punjab” – though none has seen the film so far as it is yet to be released – is not only the first film which is facing controversy and criticized for stories, bold scenes and for unacceptable contents.
There is a long list of controversial films like Aandhi which did create a buzz in the country and was banned by Indira Gandhi for quite some time as she felt that the movie was mildly influenced by her life. There are number of reasons for cropping up of controversy over rape scene of a 13 year old minor girl in Insaaf ka Tarazu, Chetna over homosexual relations, Satyam Shivam Sundram for steamy scenes, Black Friday for 1993 Bombay blasts, Sin for negative portrayal of Catholicism and indecent, Kissa Kursi Ka based on emergency and Sanjay Gandhi, Madras Café alleged to be depicting LTTE cadres in a negative manner and the recent one was MSF – The Messenger by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh – head of Sachha Sauda in 2015.
Udta Punjab film has been alleged to be sponsored by Aam Aadmi Party which is likely to give a tough fight in the coming Assembly elections and wants to influence the people by exposing the uprooted Punjab.
The film Udta Punjab is directed by Abhishek Chaubey with stars –Sahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh and reported to be based on drug menace and its impact on the youths in Punjab.
As one of the member of counseling cell in martial dispute cases, I can say that drug addict is also one of the reasons for seeking divorce by the married girls which used to be mainly on dowry with mental harassment.
If we go deep into making the films, the ideas naturally come from the happenings around us. Sadat Hassan Manto – a short story writer of his time was charged for writing vulgarity in his stories and none could reply to his statement – I am writing whatever society is doing, let the society stop doing wrongs, I will stop writing.
One can gather from this that the film is not based on fiction as the Punjab is already suffering from the problem of drugs and opening of rehabilitation centers throughout the state is witness to it. Not only this, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also speaks about other states plagued with the drug menace rather many of them figure above Punjab in a comparative chart. Even the Union Government had admitted in the Rajya Sabhathat drung addiction was affecting the youth of Punjab. Further, out of the involvement of 68 cops, 53 are from Punjab arrested in drug cases since 2014. Besides official seizure of heavy consignments of heroin by the BSF along the Indo-Pak border, there undisclosed smuggling of intoxicant substance in Punjab ruining the youths of Punjab.
At the same time, the intentions of Bollywood to get business, by generative controversies, before the release of the film, is not a new thing without making any investment.
Frankly speaking, the exposure of Punjab at the cost of political gains in any form over the drug issue is likely to land the youths of Punjab in a very awkward situation for seeking jobs out of the state and nuptial knots.
The problem of drug is not that as it is being projected by the opposition parties and the only need of the hour is to immediate make arrangements to engage the youths in some skill oriented programmes when they could start earning on passing out from school or college otherwise the day is not far when our youths may not in a position to bear the brunt of circumstances. It is not understood as to why those who are opposing the release of movie are not ready to accept the reality.
Now when the Bombay High Court has given nod for screening of the film, the film “Udta Punjab” should not be seen from the angle controversy rather as a feedback to improve the things.
