Like Udta Punjab, 10 Hindi films slashed by CBFC, made to change title

Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab maybe renamed with reports suggesting a censor board panel has asked the filmmakers to drop all references to Punjab and elections from the movie that portrays drug abuse in the state.

The film, scheduled for a June 17 release, reportedly hit a hurdle because of its depiction of narcotics abuse and the use of expletives, joining a string of controversial movies that have undergone cuts or name changes in recent times due to cultural, political or religious reasons.

Read: Udta what? Punjab reference maybe dropped from Shahid Kapoor’s movie

But Bollywood and censorship go hand in hand. In the past few years, several films have been hacked, slashed and butchered by the Censor Board. Here are a few:

Film that have had to undergo title changes

Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram Leela (2013)

Before: Ram LeelaWhy: 6 different petitioners called for a title change to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic opus. Hindu groups said their religious sentiments were hurt.

R… Rajkumar (2013)

Before: Rambo RajkumarWhy: Producers of Hollywood series Rambo starring Sylvester Stallone raised objections with the title.

Madras Café (2013)

Before: JaffnaWhy: While the official reason given was to make it ‘more youth oriented,’ it was speculated that the change was made to distance the film from the turbulent politics of the region in Sri Lanka and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

Billu (2009)

Before: Billu BarberWhy: The Salon and Hairdressers Union alleged that they were being portrayed in a negative light in this Irrfan Khan-Shah Rukh Khan starrer.

Katti Batti (2015)

Before: Saali KuttiyaWhy: This was an obviously controversial title that would’ve had a difficult time to get clearance by the CBFC.

Read: Katti Batti review: Boy meets girl and together they bore us

Films that have been asked to make cuts

Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 (2016)

Reportedly, 150 cuts were made to the sex comedy just to obtain an ‘A’ certificate.

Read Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 review: All sex, no comedy in this porn-com

Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)

18 cuts, including images of Lakshmi and Kali’s to be blurred. The trailer was given an ‘A’ certificate just for having the word ‘bed’ in it. The filmmakers released a video online titled ‘All the Dirty Things the Censors Don’t Want You to See.’

Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

Cuts were made to sequences involving Pakistan. Scenes, shots and verbal references to Pakistan were trimmed to make the film less overt.

Read: Bajrangi Bhaijaan review: Full on entertainment, Salman Khan style

Grand Masti (2013)

218 small cuts were made to the film according to a Mid Day report.

Delhi Belly (2011)

17-18 cuts were made to the Aamir Khan produced Imran Khan adult comedy. The most infamous controversy was to do with the lyrics of the song Bhaag DK Bose.