Nepal Bans Bollywood Film Udta Teer Days Before Its October 23 Release

Nepal has banned the Bollywood film Udta Teer. Cinemas in Nepal cannot show the film. Udta Teer stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan. The film is set to release in India on October 23. Aakash Kaushik directs the film. It is his first film as a director. Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment made it.

In the story, Khurrana plays a Pakistani spy. He loses his memory after an accident. He then starts to believe he is an Indian officer. Speaking about the plot earlier, Khurrana said: “Just when you think you know where Udta Teer is going, it takes another turn.”

Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology made the ban decision. The ministry sent a letter to the film’s Nepal distributor, National Cine Group. The letter said the film did not have permission to screen in the country.

The ministry’s Audio-Visual and Broadcasting Division reviewed the film. It found the film breaks Section 8(3) of Nepal’s film law. This section stops the censor board from approving films that could harm national security, public order, or ties with friendly countries.

Film critic Samipyaraj Timilsina spoke about the ban. He said the Central Film Censor Board rejected the film because its story centres on India-Pakistan tension.

Timilsina said Nepal has the right to stop films that could harm another country’s image or hurt ties with friendly nations. But he also warned that banning too many films about conflict could cause more problems. He said officials should study a film’s subject and sensitivity before blocking it. He pointed to two earlier films, Alpha and Bantwara, which also ran into screening trouble in Nepal.

Nepal’s film law does allow the censor board to approve a film later. This can happen if the makers agree to cuts or changes.For now, Udta Teer is still set to release in Indian cinemas on October 23.