Hours before Udta Punjab's release, Anurag makes appeal to audiences

In a post on Facebook, Kashyap wrote: "I have never downloaded a film on torrent, i don't know how to. yes occasionally i have seen downloaded films borrowed from friends and found a way to pay for them later, by buying them on DVD or blurray, and when i say this i also say that no one can stop your right to download a film."

 

He said this time it is a different fight.

 

"This time its a different fight, its a fight against censorship and if you are that audience that always downloads a film, then i won't ask you to not do that , please do, but wait till Saturday which is the day you would normally download a film. Piracy happens because of lack of access and in a world of free internet, i do not have a problem with it. My problem is that this time its a case of vested interests trying to demoralise people from fighting for their rights. So all downloaders of Udta Punjab , i urge, wait till Saturday till you decide to not pay for the film, don't download and share , curb the curiosity for two more days. Thank you for reading this," he posted.

 

Earlier in the day, Central Board for Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani said the leaked version of Udta Punjab is different from the one they have seen for certification.

 

"Copy given to CBFC different from the leaked copy," he told media.

 

"The corrected copy is different," he said.

 

 Giving relief to the makers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed petition against the release of upcoming Hindi movie 'Udta Punjab'.

 

The film will hit the silver screen in India on Friday.

 

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the release of upcoming film 'UdtaPunjab'.

 

The court, however, directed the NGO that had moved the apex court to stall the screening of the movie which features actors Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

 

The court said it will not interfere into the matter.

 

It allowed the petitioner to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with its prayer.

 

The NGO had petitioned the Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court order directing the Censor Board to clear the film with one cut.

 

On Monday, the Bombay High Court gave the film almost a clean chit, allowing it to be released for "adult viewing" and with only one cut after the Pahlaj Nihalni-led Central Board of Film Certication(CBFC) recommended 13 cuts, saying several portions of it were "over sensitive."

 

Meanwhile,  'Udta Punjab' has been released online.

 

It is scheduled to be released on Friday.

 

After weeks of controversy, the film was cleared for release by the censor board,

 

The makers of the movie, Phantom Films, has filed a copyright theft case with the cybercrime cell  over the release of the film online.

 

Co-produced by Anurag Kashyap, the film is directed by Abhishek Choubey.