Kathmandu, October 19
The Indian film Udta Teer, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan, has been barred from screening in Nepal.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology informed distribution company National Cine Group through an official letter that the film had not been granted permission for public screening.
Directed by Aakash Kaushik, the spy comedy was scheduled to release in Nepal on Friday. However, the ministry’s Audio-Visual and Broadcasting Division said the film contained content prohibited under Section 8(3) of the Film (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act, 1963.
According to film writer and critic Samipyaraj Timilsina, the Central Film Censor Board reportedly denied the film permission because its storyline revolves around tensions between India and Pakistan.
Timilsina said Nepal has provisions to restrict films that could harm the image of another country or adversely affect relations with friendly nations. He noted that films directly affecting a country’s national identity or its communities could also face restrictions.
Section 8(3) of the Act states that the film censor board cannot approve a film or any part of it if it is considered detrimental to Nepal’s security, peace and order, relations with friendly countries, or harmony among different classes or ethnic groups.
Timilsina said the decision to block Udta Teer was based on this provision.
However, he cautioned that repeatedly banning films dealing with international conflicts and revenge could create further complications. He suggested that authorities should carefully assess a film’s subject matter and sensitivity before deciding whether to restrict its release.
He also cited earlier controversies surrounding the screening of the films Alpha and Bantwara.
The Act also allows the censor board to approve a film after necessary cuts or modifications if doing so would bring it into compliance with the law.
What is ‘Udta Teer’ about?
Udta Teer is a spy comedy directed by Aakash Kaushik, marking his feature-film directorial debut. The film is produced by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment.
Khurrana plays Bilal Ahmed, a Pakistani spy sent to India on a mission. Following an accident, he loses his memory and begins believing that he is an Indian counterterrorism officer, embracing a sense of patriotism.
The film’s storyline centres on the tensions between India and Pakistan, a subject that has featured in numerous Bollywood productions.ilm Udta Teer, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan, has been barred from screening in Nepal.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology informed distribution company National Cine Group through an official letter that the film had not been granted permission for public screening.
Directed by Aakash Kaushik, the spy comedy was scheduled to release in Nepal on Friday. However, the ministry’s Audio-Visual and Broadcasting Division said the film contained content prohibited under Section 8(3) of the Film (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act, 1963.
According to film writer and critic Samipyaraj Timilsina, the Central Film Censor Board reportedly denied the film permission because its storyline revolves around tensions between India and Pakistan.
Timilsina said Nepal has provisions to restrict films that could harm the image of another country or adversely affect relations with friendly nations. He noted that films directly affecting a country’s national identity or its communities could also face restrictions.
Section 8(3) of the Act states that the film censor board cannot approve a film or any part of it if it is considered detrimental to Nepal’s security, peace and order, relations with friendly countries, or harmony among different classes or ethnic groups.
Timilsina said the decision to block Udta Teer was based on this provision.
However, he cautioned that repeatedly banning films dealing with international conflicts and revenge could create further complications. He suggested that authorities should carefully assess a film’s subject matter and sensitivity before deciding whether to restrict its release.
He also cited earlier controversies surrounding the screening of the films Alpha and Bantwara.
The Act also allows the censor board to approve a film after necessary cuts or modifications if doing so would bring it into compliance with the law.
What is ‘Udta Teer’ about?
Udta Teer is a spy comedy directed by Aakash Kaushik, marking his feature-film directorial debut. The film is produced by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment.
Khurrana plays Bilal Ahmed, a Pakistani spy sent to India on a mission. Following an accident, he loses his memory and begins believing that he is an Indian counterterrorism officer, embracing a sense of patriotism.
The film’s storyline centres on the tensions between India and Pakistan, a subject that has featured in numerous Bollywood productions.
