Chandigarh/ Punjab (October 26, 2013): Punjabi movie Sadda Haq that was based on post-1984 to mid-1990s events in Punjab had faced much trouble to get released in India, but it was not successful in securing requisite certificate that is required to show a film on TV channels in India.
It is learnt that Sadda Haq may never make it to television in India as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied it a U or U/A certificate, which is necessary to telecast the movie on satellite. The movie had earlier got an “A” certificate by the CBFC for the theatre release.
Sadda Haq banned for TV channels in India
It is notable that initially in 2012 the movie was banned by CBFC as it had denied to clear the movie but on appeal to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) the producers were able to get “U” certificate. But the date of release in April 2013 the movie was banned by Punjab government besides Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandgiarh & Delhi governments/administration.
The producers were able to get the movie cleared from the Supreme Court of India but only after obtaining “A” (adult) certification.
Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, actor-cum-producer of the movie said, “We submitted a tailored version of the movie to meet the requirements for a U or U/A certificate. But we were denied a certificate as the panel found that the content in the movie may mislead the young minds. We appealed to the revising committee as well but to no benefit”.
When asked about the future course, he added, “We are fed up with all these refusals. Appealing to the revising committees or taking a legal route does cost us resources. Anyhow we have not decided anything as of now.”