Festive Fervour

Book your ticket for the Vaisakhi Film Festival

It sounded like a pretty decent idea. Spring’s in the air,it’s Vaisakhi and what better time to roll out the best in cinema,that too Punjabi. While we went thinking Chann Pardesi,Ek Chadar Maili Si,Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da,Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Buta Singh,and other such the highlights of Punjabi cinema,Bibi Harjinder Kaur,Chairperson Punjab Arts Council burst the bubble by announcing – “Only socio-religious-historic Punjabi films,those which have a message,especially for the youth.” That’s great,we cheered as well as we could,but will the youth be actually interested in these honey-dipped spools? “Why of course! We already have two shows houseful in advance,” Kaur jumps to the defence,and says that “it’s us,the elders who’ve strayed from their duties and not instilled the right values or educated our children about Punjab’s rich history and culture.” Presented by the Sikh Nari Manch and Sikh Missionary College in collaboration with Gurdwara Sahib 19,34,40 and 46 of Chandigarh,the festival will showcase renowned Punjabi films selected from across the globe. “Sunny – The Proud Sikh,Kambadi Kalayee from the US,Kab Gal Lavenge,Amar Khalsa,Sahibzadey,Mai Bhago,Sat Sri Akal,Panj Kahanian….each film is packed with literature,glorious past and timeless message,” professes Kaur. So,are these to promote the religion or the culture, we muse. “Well,not religion,not culture,just the right values,” the former Mayor gets politically correct.