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The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Diljit Dosanjh's ‘Punjab 95' stuck in censor board limbo with 127 demanded cuts
More than two years after completion, Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh as human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, remains unreleased, trapped in a cycle of delays and censorship. Despite being privately screened at Cannes for a small group of Indian and international journalists, the film's official release date is still nowhere in sight. Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP Movies, the film was initially slated to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. But Indian authorities intervened, prompting the filmmakers to withdraw. Since then, Punjab 95 has faced an uphill battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), resulting in a staggering 127 demanded cuts. 'Shuru shuru mein maine mann maar ke 21 cuts kare, socha chalo picture nahi atkey (At first, I begrudgingly agreed to 21 cuts so that at least the release doesn't stall,)' Trehan told The Indian Express during a conversation in Cannes. 'They came back with more cuts. We made those too. Then more silence.' The film traces the journey of Khalra, a bank manager who exposed mass disappearances and extra-judicial killings in Punjab during the militancy era. In 1995, Khalra was abducted and later found dead. Dosanjh plays the activist, and is supported by an ensemble cast that includes Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljeet, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. Trehan says some of the CBFC's demands have been 'verbally non-negotiable,' including removing the name 'Khalra,' deleting visuals of the Indian flag, muting gurbani sounds, avoiding the term 'Punjab police,' changing names of locations, and renaming the film itself. 'What is left then?' Trehan asked. 'No reasons have been given formally. I am willing to cut anything if it's a court directive, but I am not being allowed to fight in court.' Although the case reached the Bombay High Court in 2023, the producers were later told to withdraw it. Attempts to release the film overseas have also been shelved. Now renamed Sutlej, Trehan says the film has incorporated all demanded changes. But he and Dosanjh are walking away. 'This is not my film, and I'm withdrawing my name from it. So is Diljit... He's been with me through and through,' Trehan said.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
127 cuts, no release: Diljit Dosanjh's Punjab 95 is caught in a cycle of postponements, disappointments, says director Honey Trehan
An Indian film screened on the sidelines of the recent Cannes film festival which caught the eye of a group of visiting Indian and international journalists was Punjab '95, produced by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP Movies, directed by Honey Trehan, and starring Diljit Dosanjh, Kanwaljeet, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, among others. It was a private screening organised by the director who has been running from the proverbial pillar to post for the past two years to get the film released. In September 2023, it was meant to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), but the filmmakers were told by Indian authorities that they would have to pull out the film. Since then, there's been a stand-off between the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the filmmakers, causing the film to lie in limbo, joining other recent films which have been stopped from releasing, including Sandhya Suri's 'Santosh', which officially screened in Cannes in 2024. Punjab '95 tells the story of an ordinary man who became extraordinary through his dogged attempts to help those who could not help themselves. Jaswant Singh Khalra, a bank manager in Amritsar, got sucked into the murky goings-on in the state at a time when terrorist activity was rife. After some digging, it was found that the legitimate action against militants was being used to target innocents, leading to an unconscionable number of extra-judicial killings. Khalra's initial attempts to discover what happened to a family he knew well led him to uncovering a massive cover-up, and he became a thorn in the side of those in power. In September 1995, he was abducted from his home, and taken to the police station; after a few days, he was found dead, his body showing signs of torture. Dosanjh plays Khalra with a quiet conviction, taking care not to bring any awareness of his own celebrity status into the role. A man pitch-forked quite inadvertently into a slice of contentious history, Dosanjh as Khalra is shown at sea, to begin with: he has no idea where, how and why people are disappearing, and how the nameless dead are piling up at mortuaries, only gradually unravelling the stealth and conspiracy behind the killings. The ensemble cast does a good job, with Suvinder Vicky in a stand-out turn as the dirty cop who cracked the whip at the state's command. Director Honey Trehan has turned Khalra's powerfully moving story into a telling document of a time when Punjab was in the throes of militancy, and how one man's tireless crusade blew the covers off a crime against humanity. During an impassioned conversation in Cannes after the screening, he spoke about his efforts to keep the film's letter-and-spirit intact even as the number of cuts have kept climbing from the initial 21: at last count they numbered more than a hundred. 'Shuru shuru mein maine mann maar ke 21 cuts kare, socha chalo picture nahi atkey', says Trehan (at first instance, I made the 21 cuts reluctantly, thinking this way the film wouldn't get stuck). They wanted the name changed right from the beginning (it started off by being called 'Ghaluhgara'), and they also wanted us to drop the line 'inspired from true events'. We made the cuts, created a new DCP (print) and gave it in, they came back with some more cuts. We made those also, and gave in a fresh print yet again, and again there was silence'. All through 2024, it was more of the same. Fresh cuts, submissions, followed by a demand for more cuts. Earlier this year (2025), hope was held out that the film could be released out of the country, but that plan also had to be dropped. As things stand now, the number of cuts demanded is about 127 or so, and there is no news of when the film can, or will, release. Amongst the cuts demanded are the ones that 'we have verbally been told are non-negotiable', says Trehan. 'Change Khalra's name. Drop any visuals of the Indian flag. Take out all sounds of the 'gurbani'. Don't say Punjab police, when it is clearly the state police in turbans that's on screen. Take out the names of the places mentioned in the film where the bodies were discovered in the morgue. And change the name of the film. What is left then?' 'What I don't understand is the reason behind these cuts, he says, 'no reasons have been given formally. I am willing to cut anything if it is a directive from a court as I am a law-abiding Indian citizen, but I am not being allowed to fight in court.' The case was, in fact, being heard at the Bombay High Court in the early stages (2023), but at a crucial juncture, the producers were told that the film would have to be withdrawn from court. Ever since, it has been a case of continual postponements, and disappointments. We have taken utmost care to stick to facts, compiling them from police records and news reports, says Trehan. 'Khalra's family, which was reluctant to give the rights to anyone else, was happy for us to bring alive his legacy. They have seen the film and are satisfied with it. So has the Akal Takht. If all stakeholders are happy with it, why isn't the film being allowed to release? Last heard, he says, the film will be called 'Sutlej', and all the cuts that have been demanded, have been made by the production team. 'But this is not my film, and I'm withdrawing my name from it. So is Diljit, who has been with me through and through, saying paaji main aapke vision ke saath khada hoon (I'm standing by your vision). That is Diljit for you, when he surrenders, he surrenders completely'. 'I feel so demotivated', he says. 'There's a strong sense of betrayal. I truly feel that if I cannot stand by the person who fought fearlessly for so many people, I don't deserve to make the film on him. It is my moral, ethical duty to stand by him, and my film. Thirty years later, it feels as if Jaswant Singh Khalra is being abducted again'.
India.com
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
8 Hard-Hitting Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks: Uri, Black Friday To Neerja
photoDetails english 2903712 Updated:May 21, 2025, 08:16 AM IST Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks 1 / 9 Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks: Today, let's go back in time and revisit some of the most impressive and talked about movies which were based on the plot of real-life terror attacks, leaving a lasting impact. Neerja 2 / 9 Neerja is a 2016 biographical thriller film directed by Ram Madhvani and written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh. The film stars Sonam Kapoor as the eponymous lead, with Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles. It was based on a real-life event of attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan by Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization on 5 September 1986. The film shows how head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot died trying to help save the passengers and crew, of whom 359 of the 379 on board survived. Uri: The Surgical Strike 3 / 9 Uri: The Surgical Strike is a war action film written and directed by debutant Aditya Dhar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the RSVP Movies banner. An account based on the real story of the retaliation to the 2016 Uri attack, the film stars Vicky Kaushal along with Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal, Kirti Kulhari and Mohit Raina in pivotal roles. The Attacks Of Mumbai 26/11 4 / 9 The Attacks of 26/11 is a 2013 action thriller film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, based on the book Kasab: The Face of 26/11 by Rommel Rodrigues about Ajmal Kasab, then sole surviving perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film stars Sanjeev Jaiswal in his film debut and Nana Patekar. Mumbai Meri Jaan 5 / 9 Mumbai Meri Jaan is a 2008 film directed by Nishikant Kamat and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. It stars R Madhavan, Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon. It deals with the aftermath of the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, where 209 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured. Hotel Mumbai 6 / 9 Hotel Mumbai is a 2018 independent action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras and co-written by Maras and John Collee. It is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai about the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Black Friday 7 / 9 Black Friday is a 2004 crime film written and directed by Anurag Kashyap. Based on Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts, a book by Hussain Zaidi about the 1993 Bombay bombings, it chronicles the events that led to the blasts and the subsequent police investigation. Produced by Arindam Mitra of Mid-Day, the film stars Pawan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Kishor Kadam and Zakir Hussain. Bell Bottom 8 / 9 Bell Bottom is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Ranjit M Tewari. The film is written by Aseem Arrora and Parveez Sheikh. It stars Akshay Kumar as the lead character, with Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi in an extended cameo appearance. Bell Bottom is inspired from real life hijacking events in India by Khalistani terrorists during the 1980s, such as the Indian Airlines Flight 423, 405 and 421 hijackings. Batla House 9 / 9 Batla House is a 2019 action thriller film written by Ritesh Shah, and directed by Nikkhil Advani. Inspired by the Batla House encounter case that took place on 19 September 2008, the film stars John Abraham portraying the titular protagonist. The film showcases the encounter, and in its aftermath.
India.com
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This patriotic film bagged more than 20 awards, 4 national awards and made 1260 percent at box office, starred a new actor, this film is...
This patriotic film bagged more than 20 awards, including 4 national awards and made 1260 percent at box office, starred a new actor, this film is... Every once in a while, there comes a film that not only entertains us but also stays with us and leaves an impact that awakens patriotism for our nation. One such film that stirred such emotions, became a blockbuster, and bagged 20 awards with the luck of a new hero is none other than The Surgical Strike. 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' is one of the best films made on the India-Pakistan war. With Vicky Kaushal in the lead, this film also featured Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam, Rajit Kapoor, Mohit Raina, Kirti Kulhari, Mansi Parekh, Swaroop Rawal, Dhairya Karwa, Shishir Sharma, and Satyajit Sharma in important roles in this film. Directed by first-timer Aditya Dhar, Uri was based on the true-life retaliation of the Indian Army following the 2016 Uri attack. Vicky Kaushal was at the center of the film, playing Major Vihaan Shergill, an officer commanding a high-risk surgical strike against terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The film wasn't an action film per se—it was about bravery, tactics, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of the Indian soldier. With a low budget production of only ₹25 crore, Uri took everyone by surprise with its staggering performance as it grossed more than ₹245 crore in India and ₹340 crore worldwide, returning an eye-popping 1260% on investment. Not only did it break box office records, but it also redefined the parameters of what a patriotic war movie could do in contemporary Indian cinema. Bagging 20 awards, including four National Awards. Vicky Kaushal took home the Best Actor Award, cementing his place in the industry, while Aditya Dhar was awarded Best Director. Biswadeep D. Chatterjee won the award for Best Audiography, and Shashwat Sachdev was awarded for the film's impactful Background Score. Made by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner of RSVP Movies, the film's release was a watershark—for the careers involved as well as for the attitude towards patriotic films in India. From the applauding crowds of cinemas to that now-familiar phrase 'How's the Josh?', Uri went on to join the pop culture and national history. Uri is not just a movie. It's a tribute. A salute. A cinematic roar that resonated the courage of India's soldiers and the sentiment of every Indian heart.s.
