Amidst the controversies surrounding "Sardaar Ji 3" and discussions about "Border 2," Diljit Dosanjh has provided a major update regarding his long-delayed film, 'Punjab 95'.
Entertainment: Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh is once again in the news regarding his film ‘Punjab 95’. A new poster for the film, which has been embroiled in controversies for a long time, has been released, further heightening the audience's curiosity. The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, with Diljit playing his character. Diljit's look in the poster is so different that it's difficult to even recognize him.
Diljit Dosanjh's Frightening Avatar in the Poster
Diljit Dosanjh shared the new poster of the film on his social media, in which he is seen in a very disturbing manner. The poster is in black and white, and it shows Diljit with his hands tied and hanging. This look depicts the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra's time when he raised his voice against human rights violations and illegal killings in Punjab.
This poster has once again generated tremendous enthusiasm among the audience regarding the film. Diljit himself had said about this film that this story should reach the people, no matter how much delay it takes.
Censor Board Had Ordered 127 Cuts, Release Held Up For 2 Years
The biggest controversy regarding ‘Punjab 95’ arose when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) directed 127 cuts in the film. The censor board stated that the film's subject was very sensitive and could send the wrong message about the Punjab Police and other issues. The CBFC suggested that the word ‘Punjab’ be removed from the film and that 'Punjab Police' be replaced with just 'Police'. Furthermore, instructions were given to remove the mention of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the film. It was because of this that the film has been on hold for the past two years.
Why Did 'Punjab 95' Become So Controversial?
‘Punjab 95’ is based on the true events of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Khalra had exposed the illegal cremations and fake encounters carried out by the police in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. He presented documents of thousands of such bodies that were cremated anonymously. After his revelations, Jaswant Singh Khalra himself disappeared and was later murdered. The film attempts to bring this painful and true story to the world.
To Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival
This film by Diljit Dosanjh was scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023, but it was stopped at the last moment due to censorship. The film's producer Ronnie Screwvala and director Honey Trehan have produced it under RSVP Movies. The director has clearly stated that the story of the film is related to Punjab; hence, removing the word Punjab would be an injustice to the truth of the film itself.
Diljit Dosanjh was recently in controversies regarding his film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, which could not be released in India. Despite this, the film performed well abroad. In addition, he is also in the headlines soon regarding ‘Border 2’. In such a situation, ‘Punjab 95’ is considered a very serious and responsible project for Diljit.
