Region's double connect with '83

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 24

As the much-awaited Bollywood movie ’83 screened in cinema halls on Friday, residents recall how at least two cricketers, who were a part of the historic event when the Indian Cricket Team won the World Cup for the first time in 1983, had a connection with this region.

Among the squad was Balwinder Sandhu, a native of Mattewal village of Amritsar, and Mohinder Amarnath, who hails from Gopipur village of Kapurthala. While Sandhu’s role will be played by actor Ammy Virk, Amarnath’s portrayal will be brought forth by actor Saqib Saleem.

Sandhu still has the regional connect as his sister Paramjit Kaur Cheema resides in the Ladhewali area in Jalandhar. Elated over the release of the movie on Friday, Cheema said: “I wish I could have watched the movie on Friday as owing to certain engagements, I will be away. But I will definitely go to the theatre this weekend to revive those old memories when my brother had come home winning the cup 38 years ago and the whole country acknowledged him as the hero of the triumph, especially when he bowled Gordon Greenidge in the finals.”

Cheema said: “Our paternal house was situated in Amritsar, but our maternal grandmother hailed from Patti. Our father was a writer and he had moved to Mumbai, where we all were raised. But my marriage brought me to back to Punjab. My brother, too, is set to have a new connect with the region with his younger daughter who will soon get married to a family from Jalandhar.”

Sandhu’s brother-in-law Sajjan Singh Cheema, who was the Captain of the Indian basketball team, retired as SSP and is currently AAP leader from Sultanpur Lodhi, too, shared his excitement: “I, too, intend to spare some time from my political engagements to watch Sandhu’s film.”

He said: “Other than Sandhu, even Mohinder Amarnath who was in the squad hails from Kapurthala. His grandfather Nanak Chand ran a shop in the village and is no more. I met Mohinder twice. His Gopipur village was just adjoining my native village — Dabulian. Both villages earlier had a common panchayat and gave three cricketers (Lala Amarnath, his sons Mohinder Amarnath and Surinder Amarnath) and four-five international cagers, including me, my brother Balkar Cheema and cousin Kuldeep Cheema.”