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Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Punjab ’95’, a potentially incendiary drama that was due to premiere as a gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been removed from the line-up. The film is “a compelling story based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra,” producer RSVP and the festival described the film as telling the story of Khalra “uncovering murderous corruption during Punjab’s period of insurgency” in social media posts, reports Variety.

‘Punjab ’95’ is directed by Honey Trehan who previously made 2020 Netflix thriller ‘Raat Akeli Hai.’ The cast of ‘Punjab ’95’ includes popular musician and actor Diljit Dosanjh, Bollywood star Arjun Rampal and Suvinder Vicky, known for Cannes title ‘The Fourth Direction’, Venice selection ‘Milestone’ and recent Netflix hit series ‘Kohrra’.

Any mention of the film has been removed from the festival website. The festival had not responded to a request for comment from.

“Punjab ’95,” a potentially incendiary drama that was due to premiere as a gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), has been removed from the lineup.

The film is “a compelling story based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra,” per producer RSVP and the festival described the film as telling the story of Khalra “uncovering murderous corruption during Punjab’s period of insurgency” in social media posts.

Any mention of the film has disappeared from the festival website. The festival confirmed to Variety that the filmmaking team of “Punjab 95” removed the film from the TIFF 2023 lineup. RSVP declined to comment.

In June 1984, the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered an army operation against militants at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a holy location for Sikhs, that was criticized by many in the community. In October, Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards assassinated her, leading to anti-Sikh riots across northern India.

Filmmakers have had a tough time in the industry who have opted for independent cinema over mainstream Hindi films. Talking about the same, filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee has spoken about the problems prevailing in the film industry.

In a recent interview, Dibakar Banerjee spoke about the independent films that don't get their dues as mainstream cinema suppresses it. According to him, Bollywood has always tried to strangle something which is threatening to them. He added that audience should get a chance to see the talents of such filmmakers and independent films should be given a fair chance. Speaking about the issue, he said that he has managed to survive in the industry as he never became the part of the formula in Bollywood. Calling himself an aberration, he further added that the industry should recognize and reward such filmmakers who make the country proud all over the world.

The outburst came...

Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan (Piku) and Kangana Ranaut (Tanu Weds Manu Returns) bagged big honors at the 63rd Annual National Film Awards, which were announced Monday. The talented pair are no strangers to this honor – this is Amitabh’s fourth National Film Award and Kangana’s third.

Telegu film Baahubali was named the Best Film of 2015. Acclaimed film Bajirao Mastani also took home three awards: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Best Director, Tanvi Azmi for Best Supporting Actress and Remo D’Souza for the choreography of Deewani Mastani. The quirky Dum Laga Ke Haisha won the Best Hindi Film award.

“I’m very happy for getting my second National Award after ‘Kabul Express’. National Awards are the only relevant awards left today in the country,” filmmaker Kabir Khan said after Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s win for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

The National Awards consider films across India’s many regions; the Tamil film industry,...

The film was the first ever Punjabi-language to feature in a competitve section of the festival.

Studio Film Group (Sfg International) has secured all Canadian rights from Elle Driver for The Fourth Direction (Chauthi Koot), which received its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

It is the first Punjabi-language film to ever screen in competition at Cannes.

Based on two short stories by Waryam Singh Sandhu, the film uses mostly non-professional actors for its Punjab-set tale, which takes place in 1984 during India’s tumultuous groundswell for a Sikh separatist state.

Director Singh is made his Cannes premiere with this follow-up to his debut, Alms For A Blind Horse, which was unveiled at the Venice Film Festival in 2011.

For The Fourth Direction, Singh reunites with his Alms director of photography Satya Nagpaul. The pair were honoured on that film with awards for best direction and best cinematography at India’s National...

Exclusive: Punjab-set drama Fourth Direction to premiere in Un Certain Regard.

Elle Driver has picked up Indian director Gurvinder Singh’s tense Punjab-set drama Fourth Direction (Chauthi Koot) ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.

Set in the Indian state of the Punjab at the height of the separatist Sikh uprising in the early 1980s, the film captures the atmosphere of fear and paranoia of the period and the impact of the violence on ordinary people.

Singh intertwines two loosely connect incidents, an attempt by two Hindu friends to get to the city of Amritsar, home to one of the holiest shrines in the Sikh religion, and a farmer who is told to put-down his barking dog.

It is a second feature for Singh after his debut picture Alms for a Blind Horse, which premiered in Venice in 2011.

Elle Driver has strong links with India’s independent film scene, having previously...