World-wide Release on September 3, 2010
In today's world, if we take a moment from our busy lives and think about entertainment, we would more or less settle down to watching films. World Cinema has come a long way and graduated to a level that one cannot see what is beyond such success. In these times different language films have excelled and even got nominated for Oscars each year. In such an atmosphere we should pause and think about "Punjabi Cinema" - has it really made a mark to come in the category of world cinema? Punjabi music and culture has been exploited to the optimum in Bollywood but has it been made use of in Punjabi films? Answer to this is very simple, because, as we look around and see very limited Punjabi population going to theatres to watch a Punjabi film, we feel something is not right. Now, on one hand, one can easily blame the filmmakers for not providing good quality films, but then on the flip side, what about those individuals who are making Punjabi language become obsolete at the very family level?
"A Chinese will prefer a Chinese Film, a Bengali will watch a Bengali film before he watches a Hindi film, a South Indian or a Marathi will proudly converse in his or her mother tongue and love to watch movies in his or her language. But we Punjabis have our loyalties stuck to Hollywood and Bollywood. Then how can we not assume that Punjabi Cinema and the Punjabi language will die their own death when the audiences have shifted their loyalties?" says Ish.
Ish Amitoj Kaur, a small time filmmaker, took up the challenge of transforming the mindset by making a quality crossover Punjabi film "Chhevan Dariya".
The film very subtly touches present day issues ailing the society without compromising the entertainment content, which is neat and clean. The movie revolves around an extended family and the reunion of once childhood friends, now settled across oceans. As love blooms amongst the two pairs, it touches the problems of female foeticide, the impact of drug abuse and the drug mafia, out to spread the evil to each nook and corner of this once prosperous state. Very delicately, the film touches the scourge of AIDS, which is engulfing the state of Punjab, revealing shocking statistics. It differs widely from the contemporary films, as it is a film with a message not only for the society but also for the present and future custodians of the state. It depicts the pain and concern that lies at the heart of the Diaspora about the people of the 'land of five rivers'. They themselves assume the form of a "sixth river", which can be instrumental in bringing back the lost glory of the land.
The film has an element of suspense and action. The songs have not been used as frivolous fillers but are an integral part of the story. The comedy comes as the story lives through two hours span and has not been artificially created. This feature film has unique idea of casting a white actress in the lead role. Her role conveys a larger message about the land of five rivers where the "sixth river" of positivism is tiding the wave to one side and the other vitiating "sixth river" of negativity is polluting it. Overall, "Chhevan Dariya" goes beyond 'Makki Di Roti and Sarson Da Saag' image of Punjab and successfully traverses the subtle nuances of the true anatomy of Punjab.
The film is interspersed with four songs and two Shabads. The songs, a variance from serious thought provoking melody to light music, will enthrall the young and the old alike. The melodious music is composed by well-known composer Jaidev Kumar and sung by Wadali Brothers, Lakhwinder Wadali, Jaspinder Narula, Manpreet Akhtar, Firoz Khan, Sidhu Tajpuri, Simerjit Kumar and Christa Cannon. Tiger Style (UK) has produced the title song of the film and the music for the Shabad "Gagan Damama Bajeyo".
This film has been exclusively designed for the tastes of audiences no longer interested in watching Punjabi Cinema. As her first commercial venture, Ish is coming up with a quality product that should add Punjabi Cinema on the map of world cinema.