Yours faithfully
FOR TRADITION Ish Amitoj Kaur's film "Kambdi Kalaai" is an effort at portraying Sikh traditions and culture.
What happens when a concerned Sikh witnesses that people belonging to his own religion neither know about it much nor think in terms of saving it from eroding? He does his bit to bring about the desired change. With this burning desire to see true Sikhism being saved for posterity, director Ish Amitoj Kaur decided to make a movie on the subject.
There are 250 million Sikhs across the world with a tradition as old as 500 years, but it was never showcased authentically on celluloid, feels the filmmaker.
She decided to make "Kambdi Kalaai" in Punjabi. The film focuses on Sikhs residing abroad who feel helpless as they watch their own children turning away from Sikhism.
A shocking incident
A shocking realisation when she was in New York finally triggered her into taking action.
"There, I met some of the high officials and top representatives of the Sikh community who knew about the post-9/11 situation but not about the 1984 riots or Operation Blue Star. That was the deciding moment," she reveals.
The film revolves around a Sikh family settled abroad and its attempt to safeguard and pass on its culture to the future generation. But the youngsters seem to be disillusioned and turn towards modernity.
An American girl (Caroline Treadwell) doing research on Sikhism makes everyone realise the importance of one's own culture.
"I have tried to show things objectively and keep things simple.
The movie not only sketches Sikhism and Punjabi culture but also gives a message to Sikhs all over that it is time to protect your culture from eroding away," says Kaur.
"Kamdi Kalaai" has been selected for Long Island International Film Expo, 2006.
Kaur claims, "It opened to a huge audience on its first show at California earlier this year." In India, it was premiered in Constantia Hall, YWCA at Ludhiana, this past week.
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