MUMBAI: Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film ‘Punjab 95’, based on the life of noted human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, is facing multiple censorship demands from the Indian Censor Board (CBFC).
According to a Mid-Day report, the censor board had initially demanded the deletion of 85 scenes from the film, but after a review by the revision committee, the number went up to 120 cuts. The most controversial of these demands is the renaming of the protagonist Jaswant Singh Khalra, which the board has suggested to be “Sutlej”, one of Punjab’s rivers.
The film’s producers have strongly opposed the change, as Khalra is a respected figure in the Sikh community and changing his name is considered insulting to his legacy. Also, the censor board has also suggested changing the film’s title to Punjab ’95, which refers to the year in Punjab when Jaswant Singh Khalra went missing.
Additionally, the board has also demanded the deletion of a scene based on Gurbani, the holy book of the Sikh religion. There have been calls to remove any mention of Punjab and Tarn Taran district in the film and to remove any references to Canada and Great Britain as inappropriate.
The producers have termed these demands of the Censor Board as unnecessary and unfair to the original story of the film. They say that the film is based on real events and testimonies and changing it would affect its veracity.
The film is directed by Honey Trehan and produced by Ronnie Screwvala with McGuffin Pictures. Arjun Rampal and Surendra Vicky are also playing important roles in this film.
