Punjab Talkies

A film festival on Punjab to showcase a state & its many issues through moving pictures

Once upon a time,it was a rich land with five rivers flowing through it,fields of gold on either side and a carpet cover of lush green meadows. “That was Punjab,a land of dreamers,thinkers and builders of society,but it’s not the case now,” Simran Kaler takes a deep sigh and with a heavy heart pours out the problems gripping and eating into this state. “Decreasing water level,female foeticide,drugs,colonisation,politics…Punjab is today battling these issues,and we’re screening films to throw a light on the same,” Kaler points out to the films festival being organised under the Punjab Virasat Foundation. Says Rajeev Kumar,the founder president of the organisation,“this documentary film festival is being held to trigger a thought process among the people of Punjab,to make them sensitive towards the burning social issues this state is facing.” Inspired by the works of thespian Gursharan Singh,and dedicated to him,the festival is being held on January 21 at 2pm,English Auditorium,Panjab University. “The idea was to hold an authentic film festival,one that does justice to the work of people. We’re also inviting documentaries,concepts by students of Mass Communication,PU for a contest. These shall be viewed and judged by a panel of experts including Rajeev,Jayant Petkar from PU’s Mass Communication department and documentary filmmaker and writer Daljit Ami,” informs Kaler. The chief guest for the function will be Vipin Pubby,Resident Editor,The Indian Express,Chandigarh. As part of the festival,three documentaries will be screened: Five Rivers & Still Thirsty by Simran Kaler,Main Haan Shaheed Bhagat Singh by Pali Bhpuinder and Amandeep Singh and one on female foeticide. “The Foundation’s aim is to conserve and preserve the heritage and culture of Punjab,” Simran signs off with an invitation to the fest. Be there.