Team JP
In a row of censor board controversies one more Punjabi film is added, that is, Bathinda Express. Earlier Punjabi film Sadda Haq based on the issue of terrorism in Punjab and Sutta Naag which depicts the cultural paradox of Punjab got into the troubled water when censor board of India refused the certificates on illogical Issue. On the one side Indian censor board gives nod to songs like ‘tu trigger dabaye, main chumme chalayun (Ramleela) and adult movies like Grand Masti, while on the other hand it refuses to even listen the context of the logical scenes or properties used in the film to depict the real face of society.

This behaviour of censor board upsets Buraah’s writer and Bathinda Expresses director Deep Joshi. Joshi is himself a lead protagonist in the film. Earlier he has portrayed a drug addict in Punjabi film Chak Jawana. Deep Joshi is quiet disappointed from the film censor board. His upcoming Punjabi film Bathinda Express has come under the tough paws of the film censor board. Otherwise, this film was almost ready to be released on 17th Jan 2014. The major aspect of the film is related with fighting against drug addiction in India. In fact, the scenes related to drug addiction, that we have seen in the trailer of the film, were all symbolically done. But the central board of film censors has ordered to delete all such scenes from the film.

Punjabi Film Actor Director Deep Joshi

                              While talking to Just Panjabi, Deep Joshi stated, “ I am surprised of the system in India. Sensor board has created hurdles for Bathinda Express and that too without any sensible logic. As per the directions of Film Censor Board, I have been asked to delete such shots from the film that shows use of drugs. Whereas there is no real use of drugs in the film. Even I tried hard to make the board authority understand my point that, whole of the film story is based on this addiction habit, causes and awareness. So that  we could make people understand,  how actually it happens and parents could keep a watch over their children. Moreover all such scenes in the film have been shot symbolically only. Still they disagreed. There was just one scene, which has been deleted now, in which we showed an injection again as symbol.”

                                   “I would have appreciated the decision of the board if they would have been given fair logic. If they have no issues for publicizing the lip lock scenes, double meaning dialogues, songs with cheap lyrics, then they should not give such an unfair decision for Bathinda Express. They must understand the motive of the scenes and the objective
of making such a film.” Joshi added.

This fresh controversy repeats the history of Punjabi Cinema. After Sutta Naag and Sadda Haq it is very disappointing for many trade people who expressed their concern over this with the request on anonymity.  Even the film Sadda Haq was not given the U Certification by the film censor board and thus can not be screened on Television. No Idea when the good day will fall, when the directors would be allowed to present the true picture of any cause and it’s awareness to benefit the society.