The movie "Udta Punjab" was leaked online two days before its official release, raising doubts on CBFC as the leaked version was meant for the censor board. Now a latest report said that the movie was available for downloading and online viewing in as many as 732 websites. Also, one cable channel in Puducherry had aired the full movie on Thursday.
The anti-piracy wing of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has reportedly detected 732 websites that had "Udta Punjab" available for online users. However, efforts are being made to remove the leaked version of the movie from all the sites.
"It is clear that the movie is a copy that was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification for certification. We were also contacted to identify the sites on which it is available. We are now getting them removed," the Times of India quoted the Hyderabad anti-piracy wing head A Raj Kumar as saying. While the makers of the film are finding it hard to restrict the circulation of the leaked version of "Udta Punjab" online, Puducherry's local cable channel "Shakti TV" has even aired the leaked version on television, according to DNA.
The full movie "Udta Punjab" became available online on the same day when the CBFC was supposed to grant its certification. Pirated copies of the film were reportedly also being sold in DVDs in Mumbai. Now the anti-piracy wing is trying to remove the movie from the internet, but it is a tough task as more websites are illegally putting it up online free of cost.
Meanwhile, makers and stars of "Udta Punjab" have been requesting fans to watch the movie in theatres and not support piracy. Co-producer Anurag Kashyap posted a long message on Facebook urging people not to download "Udta Punjab" at least before the film releases.
Starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, "Udta Punjab" is based on the issue of substance abuse in the state of Punjab. The film has been in controversy after the censor board suggested as many as 13 major cuts. Unwilling to accept the board's suggestions, the makers of the movie had raised the issue in Bombay High Court. The high court made its verdict in favour of the makers of the movie suggesting just one cut and ordering the board to grant "A" certificate to the film.
