Film on Sukha-Jinda to be released overseas

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 10

As the news of Punjabi film, ‘The Mastermind Jinda and Sukha’, based on the life of Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda, getting banned in India came early this morning, the makers and actors of the film were extremely disappointed. Revisiting the pages of history, the film has been inspired by Harjinder Singh Jinda’s book ‘Jail Chittiyan’.

Produced by Australia-based Sukhchain Singh and directed by Sukhjinder Sehra, the film was due to release worldwide and in India on September 11. But the Home Ministry’s orders to ban the film in India due to the controversial content and possibility of inciting communal sentiments were received with shock and disappointment. “We had spent so much money on production and promotional costs and the Censor Board gave us certification without any cuts to the film. I do not understand the reasons for not letting the film see an India release,” said a disgruntled Sehra, the director of the film.

The makers had been earlier to fighting delays for getting clearing from the censor board. Now, they plan to challenge the ban in Punjab and Haryana High court. ‘We are planning to contest the Home Ministry’s decision as we are confident that our film is not made with any mala fide intent,” said Sehra.

The film will release overseas as planned earlier and has already been distributed across UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Actor Nav Bajw, who is playing lead role of Jinda in the film too was shocked by the news. “It seems like a waste of our creative effort and intent as everyone involved with the film worked really hard to be objective.” Though the film has been cleared for worldwide release, the actor is now banking on the overseas audience to make the film successful. “I am confident that now the film will get a better release overseas as people will be intrigued to know why it was banned in India,” he says.

Jinda Singh and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha were given the capital punishment for assassinating the ex-Army General Arun Kumar Sridhar Vaidya, who led the Operation Bluestar in 1984.