Chandigarh, Sep 11: The ban on controversial film The Mastermind Jinda and Sukha has left radical Sikh groups fuming. Addressing media persons in Chandigarh, the director of the film Sukhjinder Singh Jinda, said that the Censor Board's decision has come as a big blow to Punjabi film industry which is already facing a number of challenges. However, he also said that the decision will not hinder with his passion for film making.
"The ban is illegal and is political motivated. The Censor Board which had cleared the film on July 24 called a press conference on Tuesday in Mumbai and said the film cannot be cleared. They said that the board has received a letter from Home Ministry raising questions, and said the film if released can hurt religious sentiments and can lead to law and order problem," Sukhjinder Singh Jinda told Mail Today.
Jinda's legal advisor Ranjan Lakhanpal said that he will approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the ban which is not justified. He said that the ban has cost the producers nearly Rs 2.5 crore, in addition to Rs 43 lakhs spent on publicity.
Nav Bajwa who plays the role of Jinda (one of the killers of Gen Arun Kumar Sridhar Vaidya) in the film said the ban will hamper with his career. "The film is not going to be released in India which is a big loss for us. We worked very hard to complete the film. We appeal to the government to revoke the ban so that the new generation comes to know about the people who sacrificed their lives for the community," Nav Bajwa said.
Meanwhile, the film producers and director have said that the film has only been banned in India but can be released it at international level.
The film, The Mastermind Jinda and Sukha - which was slated for September 11 release - is based on the lives of two Khalistan Commando Force terrorists Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha ,who killed General Arun Vaidya on August 10, 1986. General Vaidya had led Operation Blue Star to militants from Golden Temple complex. Jinda was also involved in a bank robbery of more than Rs 57 million.
The trailer of the film, which was showed to journalists, portrays both Jinda and Sukha as heroes. The glorification of former terrorists has not gone well with the Censor Board which announced a ban on the screening of the film on Tuesday.
Glorification of Khalistan terrorists is not a new thing in Punjabi films. More than six films have portrayed Indian government, police and army in a bad taste. Films like Gaddar, Quom De Heere (which depicted Indira Gandhi's assassins as heroes), Blood Street (based on police torture) and Saada Haq have been shot in the backdrop of Operation Bluestar and 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The ban on the film has also attained political overtones with hardliner Sikh groups, and the opposition Congress announcing support to film director and producers. Surprisingly, the Congress has termed the board's decision to ban the film as erroneous, wrongful and an attempt to conceal history.
"It is surprising to note that although the Censor Board had cleared this film for screening on 24th July 2015, has now taken a complete turnaround due to pressure exhorted on it by the Home Ministry. The said decision of BJP govt. has been made for cheap political gains and to flare up communal passions. The ban is also an attempt to curb the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, as enshrined in the preamble of our constitution," Congress Spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira said.
Hardliner Sikh leader Simranjit Singh Mann, who accompanied the film producers and director on Thursday said that films like The Mastermind Jinda and Sukha denied the film glorifies the Sikhs. "How you can say they are glorifying the terrorists. Bhagat Singh was also a terrorist who killed innocent people then why Bollywood films portray him as hero.Why such films are also not banned," Simranjit Singh Mann said.
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