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There are two parts to this story. One, politicians underplaying the rampant drug abuse in the state and the controversial 'big brother' role of Censor Board members in certifying a film.
The moment its theatrical trailer was released, it was very clear that Udta Punjab will kick off a controversy.
The film is now amid a brewing controversy. According to reports, the Censor Board has ordered more than 40 cuts in the film, including swear words, a song and scenes showing substance abuse. The politicians in Punjab, meanwhile, has accused the film of portraying the state and its youth in a bad light.
There are two parts to this story. One, politicians underplaying the rampant drug abuse in the state and the controversial 'big brother' role of Censor Board members in certifying a film.
A detailed survey ordered by the Centre in 2015 came up with a shocking report on the widespread abuse of drugs such as heroin, opium and pharmaceutical opioids in Punjab.
The study by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at All India Institute Of Medical Science, estimated that among a population of 2.77 crore in Punjab, there were about 2.3 lakh opioid dependent people. And this is the number of 'addicts'; the number of 'users' of drugs, were as high as 8.6 lakh.
About one-third drug abusers in Punjab take their opioid drugs through the injecting route and among them almost 90% (29% overall), use heroin, said the study. The drug addiction rate in Punjab is estimated to be 1.2 per cent, which is six times the world average.
The study also reveals gaping holes in the state government’s measures to rehabilitate the drug addicts. It claims that while as many as 80 per cent of opioid dependent individuals have tried to give-up the habit, only about 35 per cent have received any help.
It proves beyond question that drug abuse is a serious problem in Punjab. Not to mention the possibility of Pakistan terrorists using the drug cartel to infiltrate India, besides creating an army of drug addicts. It is no secret and underplaying it will not help in addressing the real problem, a point that the Censor Board should take into account putting restrictions on films like Udta Punjab.
Actor Shahid Kapoor plays a serial drug abuser, which makes showing him doing drugs a vital part of the film. Since Udta Punjab deals with a real problem, it is also important to keep its characters close to real life. The expletives, visuals of substance abuse is very unlikely to influence people to take to drug abuse. Instead, it may open up new avenues to discuss the drug abuse-related problems and help understand their consequences more clearly. It is high time the Censors Board acknowledged this fact.
Banning or censoring Udta Punjab is not the solution.
