New Delhi: A spurt in making Punjabi films to exploit issues emotive for Sikhs such as security operation in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar in 1984 anti-Sikh riots has left the security establishment worried.
In a report to the Home Ministry, the Intelligence Bureau has said that these films were based on the issues like 'Operation Blue Star', which was carried out by Indian Army in Golden temple to flush out Sikh militants, 1984 riots, during which more than 3300 Sikhs were killed, and alleged atrocities by police during the height of militancy in Punjab.
"These films also portray erstwhile militants as saviours of Sikh community. While economic reasons are quite obvious, any perceptible impact of these films on the minds of young Sikh generation is yet to be noticed," the report said.
Last three years have seen making of at least six such Punjabi films. While one film was released in 2013 and another one ('Quom De Heere') could not get clearance from the Censor Board, four others are going to be released in coming months.
The first movie released (on May 1, 2015) was 'The Blood Street' produced by Canada-based Jasbir Singh Boparai. The movie depicts how Sikh families were victims of alleged police atrocities during post-1984 period in Punjab after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh body guards and attempts to justify Sikh youths of that time taking up arms, the report said.
As claimed by the producer, the movie is to make young generation aware of the past "struggle". Baljit Singh Daduwal, President, Panthic Seva Lehar, a radical Sikh organisation, has also acted in the movie. The film got clearance from CBFC after several cuts.
Other movies which are in pipeline for release are 'Jinda and Sukha', 'Patta Patta Singhan Da Vairi' and 'Insaaf Di Udeek - Delhi 1984', the Intelligence Bureau report said.
The first of the three -- 'Jinda and Sukha' -- is on the lives of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha who killed General A S Vaida who was the Army chief when the 'Operation Blue Star' was carried out.
A few shots of this film were taken during observance of the last death anniversary of Jinda and Sukha at Akal Takht in Amritsar on October 9, 2014.
The movie is being produced by an Australia-based proprietor of 'Singh Brothers Production' and 'Brave-heart Productions' of Surrey, British Colombia, Canada.
The film 'Patta Patta Singhan Da Vairi' produced by Punjabi folk singer Raj Kakra who also made 'Quom De Heere', is based on alleged highhandedness of police during the militancy days in Punjab while
'Insaaf Di Udeek -- Delhi 1984' depicts 1984-riots in Delhi and that "justice was still awaited".
Punjabi film 'Saada Haq', produced by Kuljinder Singh Sidhu', was released in April 2013 following an order of the Supreme Court after some cuts while 'Quom De Heere, which projected assassins of
Indira Gandhi as the heroes of the community, could not get clearance of CBFC, the report said.
