The Crossbill Team
Diljit Dosanjh's long-delayed film Punjab’95, directed by Honey Trehan and based on the life of Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has encountered yet another roadblock in its journey to release. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly demanded 120 cuts, including significant modifications such as a title change.
According to a report in Mid-day, the CBFC's latest review has drastically increased the number of recommended cuts from the earlier suggested 85 to nearly 120. CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi, along with members of the reviewing committee, watched the film and issued a list of changes.
One of the most controversial changes is the complete replacement of Khalra’s character name. Additionally, the film can no longer be titled Punjab’95 due to its reference to the year of Khalra’s disappearance. For context, Jaswant Singh Khalra went missing in September 1995, and a decade later, six Punjab police officers were convicted of his murder.
“Per the CBFC’s suggestion, the film will now be called Sutlej, denoting the river that unites Punjab. There are a total of almost 120 changes. The most pivotal change is to not call the protagonist Jaswant Singh anymore,” Mid-day quoted an anonymous source as saying.
Director Honey Trehan and producer Ronnie Screwvala reportedly opposed the CBFC’s directive to change Khalra’s name, arguing that removing it would dishonour not only Khalra and his family but the entire Sikh community. Khalra is considered a martyr for his work in investigating the disappearances and killings of Sikh youths during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1994.
The CBFC also ruled that the film cannot claim to be based on real-life incidents, citing concerns that it could sway public sentiments.
“The CBFC also stated that the movie cannot claim to be based on real-life incidents as they felt it would lead to ‘swaying of sentiments’,” the source told the newspaper.
Among the numerous changes, a Gurbani scene has been ordered to be removed, as well as any mention of Punjab, Tarn Taran district, the National Flag, and references to Canada or the UK.
The filmmakers were informed that if they comply with the proposed changes, the film would receive approval by the end of this week. A final meeting is scheduled for today, during which director Honey Trehan and producer Ronnie Screwvala are expected to appeal to the CBFC against some of the suggested modifications, Mid-day reported.
The film was initially screened by the board in 2022, when it requested 22 cuts. Screwvala had challenged the decision but ultimately opted for an out-of-court settlement.
According to the source, the filmmakers ultimately chose to pursue an out-of-court settlement. During an earlier meeting, the revising committee requested that they change a line in the film where the protagonist mentions that over 25,000 people had been killed in Punjab. The committee suggested reducing the number, but Honey Trehan and Ronnie Screwvala opposed this, arguing that all the facts presented in the film were based on real-life testimonies and the CBI court’s judgment from the 1990s.
According to a report in Mid-day, the CBFC's latest review has drastically increased the number of recommended cuts from the earlier suggested 85 to nearly 120. CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi, along with members of the reviewing committee, watched the film and issued a list of changes.
One of the most controversial changes is the complete replacement of Khalra’s character name. Additionally, the film can no longer be titled Punjab’95 due to its reference to the year of Khalra’s disappearance. For context, Jaswant Singh Khalra went missing in September 1995, and a decade later, six Punjab police officers were convicted of his murder.
“Per the CBFC’s suggestion, the film will now be called Sutlej, denoting the river that unites Punjab. There are a total of almost 120 changes. The most pivotal change is to not call the protagonist Jaswant Singh anymore,” Mid-day quoted an anonymous source as saying.
Director Honey Trehan and producer Ronnie Screwvala reportedly opposed the CBFC’s directive to change Khalra’s name, arguing that removing it would dishonour not only Khalra and his family but the entire Sikh community. Khalra is considered a martyr for his work in investigating the disappearances and killings of Sikh youths during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1994.
The CBFC also ruled that the film cannot claim to be based on real-life incidents, citing concerns that it could sway public sentiments.
“The CBFC also stated that the movie cannot claim to be based on real-life incidents as they felt it would lead to ‘swaying of sentiments’,” the source told the newspaper.
Among the numerous changes, a Gurbani scene has been ordered to be removed, as well as any mention of Punjab, Tarn Taran district, the National Flag, and references to Canada or the UK.
The filmmakers were informed that if they comply with the proposed changes, the film would receive approval by the end of this week. A final meeting is scheduled for today, during which director Honey Trehan and producer Ronnie Screwvala are expected to appeal to the CBFC against some of the suggested modifications, Mid-day reported.
The film was initially screened by the board in 2022, when it requested 22 cuts. Screwvala had challenged the decision but ultimately opted for an out-of-court settlement.
According to the source, the filmmakers ultimately chose to pursue an out-of-court settlement. During an earlier meeting, the revising committee requested that they change a line in the film where the protagonist mentions that over 25,000 people had been killed in Punjab. The committee suggested reducing the number, but Honey Trehan and Ronnie Screwvala opposed this, arguing that all the facts presented in the film were based on real-life testimonies and the CBI court’s judgment from the 1990s.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment