‘I Have No Words': Honey Trehan Frustrated As Diljit's Punjab '95 Remains Stuck With CBFC
Honey Trehan, the director of Diljit Dosanjh starrer Punjab '95 said that CBFC objected to the mention of Indira Gandhi's name in the film, and questioned the logic behind this.
Honey Trehan's film 'Punjab '95', starring Diljit Dosanjh as human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been stuck with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since December 2022. The CBFC demanded 127 cuts, but there has been no further update, filmmaker Honey Trehan told NDTV. He stated that if the 127 cuts were made, only the trailer would remain. He disagreed with the cuts and said that he would remove his name from the film if they were enforced. He said that he understood the pressure on producers to make these cuts but felt the film would no longer reflect his direction.
While speaking with NDTV, Honey Trehan pointed out some demands by the CBFC, such as removing 'Punjab' from the film's title despite it being set in Punjab. 'The story is set in Punjab. Why would any sensible person remove 'Punjab' from the title itself? They are Punjabi cops wearing a turban, and they tell me to call them 'Police' and not 'Punjab Police'. Where is the logic?" he questioned.
He also added, 'They also said don't take Indira Gandhi's name. Okay, so then what should I call her? There's a film called Emergency that has been made on her whole life, and I can't even have one person take her name in the film? Why such partiality?"
Trehan clarified that his film focuses on history and Jaswant Singh Khalra's human rights struggle, not on any political party. Having waited two and a half years, Trehan expressed his frustration over the lack of artistic freedom. 'I have waited and been patient for two and a half years. If you can't express through your art, then where is the democracy? I have no words. This is how it is right now. Beyond a point, it's in nobody's control," he said.
Earlier, Jaswant Singh Khalra's wife, Paramjit Kaur Khalra, had fiercely opposed the censor board's demand for cuts, stating that the film, which was created with the family's consent, should be released unaltered.
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Islamabad, Moscow Sign Agreement To Restore Pakistan Steel Mills Project
Last Updated: Pakistan and Russia signed a protocol to restore Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi, aiming to restart steel production. The Pakistani embassy in Russia announced on Friday that the two countries have signed 'protocol to restore and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in Karachi", in what it called was a 'reaffirmation" of their 'long-standing industrial partnership". The agreement was signed at the Pakistan embassy in Moscow by Pakistan's secretary of industries and production, Saif Anjum and Vadim Velichko, general director of Industrial Engineering LLC from the Russian side. The event was attended by SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan and Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali. The project seeks to restart and expand steel production, Hindustan Times reported. Khan said, 'Reviving PSM with Russia's support reflects our shared history and commitment to a stronger industrial future." The Pakistani embassy in Russia notes that PSM, built with Soviet help in 1973, stands as a lasting testament to the enduring ties between Pakistan and Russia. Earlier this month, Pakistan and Russia agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link the South Asian country with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters, a media report said on Friday. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China, and agreed to speed up infrastructure development in the region to boost trade and economic integration. According to PTI, Abdul Aleem Khan stated that Pakistan's modernisation efforts include digitising transport infrastructure, introducing barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance. He said the reforms were part of Pakistan's broader goal to optimise regional connectivity and cross-border trade. Meanwhile, last month, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project. In a phone call, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi agreed to work towards early finalisation of the framework agreement. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Free Bus Rides For Delhi Women, But Only If You Have This New Smart Card
The AAP-era pink ticket is on its way out as the Delhi government rolls out a smart card system to ensure free bus rides only for city residents. The Delhi government is all set to replace the popular 'pink ticket' system with smart cards called Saheli Cards. Starting from August 15, only women and transgender persons with Delhi residence proof will be eligible for free rides in public buses, as per The Indian Express. This move comes under the new BJP-led administration, which wants to ensure that only local residents benefit from welfare schemes. What Was the Pink Ticket Scheme? Introduced in 2019 by the AAP government, the pink ticket scheme allowed any woman to travel for free in DTC and cluster buses without showing any ID or proof. Now, with Saheli Cards, the government plans to tighten the process and reduce misuse. What Are Saheli Cards? There will be two types of smart cards: Non-KYC Smart Cards: Easy to get with just a valid Delhi residence proof. These will work in both buses and the Metro, but free travel applies only to buses. KYC Smart Cards: These will have your name and photo, and can be topped up like a debit card. Issued by banks, they offer contactless travel and are National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) compliant. Why This Change? CM Rekha Gupta said in her Budget speech that welfare schemes should only help Delhi residents. She accused the previous government of 'votebank politics" and said their approach led to misuse of subsidies. The new smart card system aims to reduce misuse while keeping the process smooth and digital. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt prepares to make MISA documents public
New Delhi: You may soon be able to access several confidential documents related to the controversial Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), which was extensively used against opposition leaders and activists during the Emergency. Part of Delhi's govt's archival treasure trove, the documents are likely to be made public by the state's archives department. Sources said a proposal, along with all available MISA-related files, was sent to Delhi govt's home department for final approval. Once the process is complete, the documents will be digitised and made accessible to people. MISA was enacted by the then Congress govt, led by Indira Gandhi in 1971, to address issues of national security and internal disturbances. The provisions of the law allowing preventive detention without charge or trial were widely used against political leaders, activists, journalists, and students during the Emergency from June 26, 1975, to March 21, 1977. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Officials said the documents related to MISA were retrieved during the digitisation process of over four crore archival records — some as old as the 19th century — by the archives department. They added that these documents included the details and reports of activists and people who were arrested during the Emergency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Apply for NRI Account Online HSBC Undo Many of the documents, along with photographs and performances that highlighted the suspension of civil liberties and democratic rights during the 21-month period, were displayed in an exhibition, titled 'Five Decades After Emergency', organised by Delhi govt to mark "Samvidhan Hatya Diwas", in Central Park of Connaught Place on June 26. Several previously unpublished documents, including detention orders for prominent political figures such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Jan Sangh president Balraj Madhok, Jai Prakash Narain, and Lal Krishna Advani, were put on display. A senior Delhi govt official said that the idea behind making the documents public was to preserve and share this important chapter of India's political history. The official added that there were a large number of people interested in historical records related to the Emergency. According to the Shah Commission of inquiry, more than 35,000 people were held under preventive detention during this time. Officials said the Delhi archives are the custodian of all public records of the Govt of NCT of Delhi, available for use by bona fide research scholars and the general public. Access to its records is governed by the provisions of the Public Records Act, 1993, and the Public Records Rules, 1997, enacted by Union govt and adopted by Delhi govt. Anyone who intends to consult the records of the Delhi Archives has to register at the e-Abhilekh Portal of this department. A large number of revenue records or land and properties in Delhi, along with Bahadur Shah Zafar's trial, firmans and sanads of Shah Alam II, the revolt of 1857, land acquisition records, rare photographs of freedom fighters, and development plans and maps of the British era have been digitised, preserved, and made available to the general public through the portal.
