A poster from the movie Sadda Haq
New Delhi:
Controversy surrounding thePunjabi film Sadda Haq seems to have worked in its favour asthe makers have increased the prints ahead of its releasetomorrow.
Sadda Haq was banned in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Jammuand Chandigarh a day ahead of its earlier scheduled releaseApril 5. The ban was lifted following the Supreme Court'sorder.
"We are happy that the film is finally releasing evenwith an A-certificate. The ban and the controversy haveactually worked in our favour inspite of the harassment thatwe faced. We could not have fought more," Siddhu said at apress conference here.
"Had the ban continued, we would have incurred losses inIndia but now we have doubled the print. Earlier, we werereleasing the film with 48 prints but now we are screening itwith 80 prints."
The film ran into trouble for allegedly glorified theKhalistan movement. It is set in Punjab of the late 1980s and'90s.
Siddhu said filmmakers should not be denied the freedomof expression.
"Even after a 100 years of Indian cinema, filmmakers feelsuffocated as they are denied the opportunity of expressingthemselves in the country. Whenever attempts are made ofmaking a hard-hitting film, people hit the streets to burn thecinemas. If you don't like the film then don't watch it,"Siddhu said.
Directed by Mandeep Benipal, the film stars KuljinderSingh Sidhu, Gaurav Kakkar, Dhriti Sharan and Parmod Moutho.Director Benipal said that they have already releasedSadda Haq in 10 countries and will take it to seven morecountries. He is also in talks with BBC to sell film's rights.
Sadda Haq was banned in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Jammuand Chandigarh a day ahead of its earlier scheduled releaseApril 5. The ban was lifted following the Supreme Court'sorder.
"We are happy that the film is finally releasing evenwith an A-certificate. The ban and the controversy haveactually worked in our favour inspite of the harassment thatwe faced. We could not have fought more," Siddhu said at apress conference here.
"Had the ban continued, we would have incurred losses inIndia but now we have doubled the print. Earlier, we werereleasing the film with 48 prints but now we are screening itwith 80 prints."
The film ran into trouble for allegedly glorified theKhalistan movement. It is set in Punjab of the late 1980s and'90s.
Siddhu said filmmakers should not be denied the freedomof expression.
"Even after a 100 years of Indian cinema, filmmakers feelsuffocated as they are denied the opportunity of expressingthemselves in the country. Whenever attempts are made ofmaking a hard-hitting film, people hit the streets to burn thecinemas. If you don't like the film then don't watch it,"Siddhu said.
Directed by Mandeep Benipal, the film stars KuljinderSingh Sidhu, Gaurav Kakkar, Dhriti Sharan and Parmod Moutho.Director Benipal said that they have already releasedSadda Haq in 10 countries and will take it to seven morecountries. He is also in talks with BBC to sell film's rights.
