Ten days before its scheduled release director Abhishek Chaubey's film 'Udta Punjab' has run into more trouble, with a committee asking that all references to Punjab, politics and elections be removed from the film, reports NDTV.


The film, based on drug abuse in the state, was referred to a panel called the Revising Committee after the Censor Board refused to clear it for release without cuts because it features "excessive swearing.


"The filmmakers said the revising committee wants the film to be set in a fictional land rather than in Punjab and wants heavy cuts to temper the "reality" of the film."Udta Punjab, starring actors Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is scheduled for release on June 17 and sources said if the filmmakers don't reach a settlement with the committee soon, they may have to change the title to just "Udta".


Fierce objections to the film's title and narrative have come from Punjab's ruling Akali Dal led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and deputy Sukhbir Badal, who have been assailed by opposition parties Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party over the growing drug menace in the state, where assembly elections will be held early next year.


The Akali Dal is a member of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and the two parties also partner in governing Punjab.


The Akali Dal-BJP combine had a won second straight term in the state elections in 2012, defeating a trend of Punjab alternating between parties every five years, but this time is seen to be facing a huge anti-incumbency sentiment. The film, starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor, is to release on June 17.