'WE ARE FILMMAKERS, NOT CRIMINALS'

In the light of the censorship troubles faced by the film industry in general and his own film, Panjab ‘95, in particular, Honey Trehan talks about suppression, thought control and freedom of expression

- NAMRATA JOSHI

HONEY Trehan's Panjab '95 has been in the eye of the storm since 2023, when it was scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Unfortunately, it was pulled out at the last minute. Produced by RSVP Movies and MacGuffin Pictures, it was called Ghalughara (Massacre) back then.

Based on the life of the Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film stars Diljit Singh Dosanjh in the lead with Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Suvinder Vicky, Arjun Rampal and Kanwaljeet Singh in prominent roles.

Khalra had been investigating the disappearances, abductions, shootouts, killings and covert cremations of ordinary people, allegedly carried out by the Punjab Police, as counter-terrorism operations, during the insurgency years. Khalra himself was later abducted and killed. Eventually, six Punjab Police officers were convicted and sentenced for the same.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had objected to the original title of the film, along with suggesting 127 cuts.

Its release at home has been facing indefinite delay, and the international release, excluding India, slated for May 2025, was also prohibited.

Trehan has been vocal against censorship even as he recently received the National award for best feature film in Malayalam for backing Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku (Undercurrent) under his MacGuffin Pictures banner.

Excerpts:

■ From Udta Punjab to Panjab '95, what has changed in the way censorship is being done? It has become more political and agenda-driven. The people in power are using CBFC as a backdoor entry to control the narrative, the thinking of the filmmakers, and their freedom of speech and expression. They want you to make their kind of films, and not your own film.