Diljit Dosanjh’s Punjabi film, Sardaarji 3, will release tomorrow (June 27) Overseas but its India release has been rendered impossible because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has not issued the film a certificate. Although no reason has been given by the CBFC for non-issuance of certificate, it requires nothing more than common sense to understand that it is because the film stars a Pakistani actress, Hania Aamir. In view of the tense relations between India and Pakistan following the Pakistani terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April, the presence of a Pakistani actress in the film is being viewed with consternation by the CBFC.
Instead of waiting any further, the producers decided to release the film Overseas. Diljit’s Punjabi films do record business abroad and if Sardaarji 3 also becomes a hit, the producers could well recover their cost from Overseas business, besides revenues from music sales abroad and subsidy from the UK government.
Meanwhile, the All India Cine Workers Association is spewing venom against even the impending Overseas release. If the AICWA had its way, it would not let the film see the light of the day anywhere in the world.
Had an outsider taken such a harsh stand against a film person, it would’ve been understandable, but for a film association to want a ban on a film’s release anywhere in the world is not just an immature but also a deplorable decision. And when you realise that the film stars Diljit Dosanjh, who has been instrumental in making a name for India and Indians on the international map with his over-packed musical concerts, the shock is even greater.
The AICWA ought to know better than to issue threats and announce bans on a film, because it is common sense that the film was not launched after the April Pahalgam attack but rather it may have actually been completed before the unfortunate incident took place. Then how can the producers of the film be penalised for something which was not under their control? Did anyone know when Sardaarji 3 was being shot, that a devastating Pakistani terrorist attack would take place in Pahalgam prior to the film’s release? What is a producer supposed to do if his film is complete before the attack happened? Just let all the hard work and the investment in the film go down the drain? For what?
Such emotional, illogical and irrational decisions can be expected by outsiders who don’t understand the working of the film industry. But doesn’t the AICWA know that it takes months, may be even years, to complete a film? What kind of an association is it if it doesn’t understand the basics of film business? Why would anyone from the film industry want to inflict losses on someone who is part of the film industry? Only to show its might?
The labour union has not stopped at just that. Like a spoilt and irritating child, it has also threatened to not allow anyone to henceforth work with Diljit Dosanjh. Does this even make sense? Mind you, this labour union professes to work and fight for the betterment and rights of Indian film industry workers and artistes. So does the union think that Diljit Dosanjh is an alien artiste?
