Sadda Haq draws thousands to Ilford cinema

[Pyara]

Film banned in India - Sadda Haq - draws thousands to Ilford cinema to see story of Punjabi militancy - News - Ilford Recorder

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ILFORD RECORDER

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
9:00 AM

A film which has been banned in parts of India for its portrayal of militant groups has been drawing thousands of people to an Ilford cinema.

Sadda Haq is a fictional account of a hockey player who joins a militant group which its makers say draws on real-life “torture” against Sikhs in India in the 1980s.

It has reportedly been banned by state governments in Punjab and other regions in India but has been bumped up to a larger screen at the Cineworld in Clements Road, with Ilford’s Sikh community flocking to watch it.

The Punjabi film, with English subtitles, has drawn fans including Aman Singh, 27, of The Drive, Ilford.

He said: “The film shows both sides of the story and I think it’s a great watch. I found myself lost in the storyline, I enjoyed it.”

And coach-loads of people went from the Karamsar gurdwara in High Road, Ilford, to the Indian High Commission in London on Monday to protest against the ban.

Cllr Balvinder Saund of Seven Kings ward, who said she was one of the first people in line to watch it, said events which inspired it include riots against Sikhs in India in 1984 following the death of Indira Gandhi.

She added: “It doesn’t say anything against the Hindu community or any other communities.

“It is a voice of conscience.”

Ali Raza, Cineworld’s Ilford manager, said the film was originally screened in a 165-seater theatre but was moved to one of the cinema’s largest, holding 300 people, and extra shows have been put on.

He said: “With some Bollywood films we can estimate the audience but we can’t predict with some Punjabi films.” A delegation of Hindu organisations reportedly called for it to be permanently banned because they alleged it glorified the Khalistan movement, which wants a separate Sikh country within the Punjab region of South Asia.

[Singh559]

[Jonny101]

A delegation of Hindu organisations reportedly called for it to be permanently banned because they alleged it glorified the Khalistan movement, which wants a separate Sikh country within the Punjab region of South Asia.

Some people just want to bury their heads in the sand. The movie shows the reasons why militancy in Punjab started and increased. Instead of watching the movie and learning from it they are ignoring it and even trying to take more ਪੰਗਾ with the Sikhs. They don't realize that when they try to suppress the Sikhs and their freedom you only end up repeating the mistakes that the film is trying to highlight.

Hindu opposition to the installation of the portrait of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the SGPC museum, Bhai Rajoana, BlueStar Ghalukara memorial, Sadda Haq and now Prof Bhullar case has only given rise to political Sikh activism. You don't see these same people demanding Tytler or Sajjan Kumar be punished, yet they will oppose Sikhs every chance they get even on small issues like honouring the families of the Shaheeds at the Akal Takht. They don't realize that by constantly opposing Sikhs on non issues, they are provoking the Sikhs and re awakening the Sikh nation in India and worldwide. They are making the same mistake the Hindus of the 50s, 60s and 70s made by opposing genuine Sikh political demands and look what ended up happening during the 80s. Let's hope that the leaders of the Hindus, Indian media and government make some wise decisions this time around, because so far all they are doing now is just repeating the same mistakes.