At 60, Punjab Languages Department Director makes debut, film premieres at Locarno festival

Gurvinder Singh, a National Award-winning director, has made his directorial debut with the Punjabi film Rehmat, which premiered at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. The film stars veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and rising star Suvinder Vicky, alongside a debutant in the form of Jaswant Singh Zafar, who is 60 years old and the Director of the Punjab government's Languages Department.

Zafar, a poet-writer and author of 12 books, brings a unique perspective to the film as the director of the Punjab Languages Department.

Rehmat, meaning compassion or God's blessing, explores the past 100 years of Punjab while addressing its current issues. The film is based on three short stories by the 91-year-old Punjabi writer Ajeet Cour, a Partition survivor. Gurvinder Singh, who has known Cour for a long time, felt an instant affinity with him due to their shared history.

The film's director chose Kila Raipur and Gujjarwal villages for shooting, as they still have pre-Partition structures and symbols of modern life, emphasizing the contrast between Punjab's past and present.

Zafar, who retired as Deputy Chief Engineer from the Power Department in 2023, shared that he spent weekends shooting in Ludhiana's Kila Raipur and Gujjarwal villages. He believes that spaces play an essential role in storytelling, and every wall, window, and road holds significance in the narrative. Gurvinder Singh chose Zafar for the film based on his intellect and skill, rather than perceiving him as a debutant.

Both Naseeruddin Shah and Gurvinder Singh have previously won National Awards for their work, and they bring their expertise to this important film.