Sadda Haq, a film which depicted the militancy period of 80s & 90s in Punjab courageously. Presenting such a true picture of the era was not an easy journey for the makers. We talked to its producer & lead actor Kuljinder Singh Sidhu to know about their tough fight for Sadda Haq.
How did the concept of Sadda Haq materialize?
I had seen and heard a lot about what was happening at that time and wanted to make a film on it. Few years after settling up my ad agency, I made some savings and felt it was time. I reached out to people and discussed the subject with them. Some rejected the idea at once and few backed out after initial commitment. Then me and Dinesh Sood (partner) decided to produce another film Mini Punjab (2009). After its release I again thought about making Saada Haq. Everyone told me that the subject is too controversial. Even Dinesh Sood suggested the same. But when he realized that I am determined to make it, he too joined in.
Few suggested that I must not act in the film and should sign someone else like Jimmy Shergill but I had written the subject and understood it well. Even a few directors refused to direct it.
After all the rejections and discouragement I took legal advise which worked for the betterment of film and us.
What kind of changes did you make in the film?
We fictionalized the subject by changing the names ,identities & work positions of real life people. But core theme remained the same. Finally, we started working on the film and completed it without any obstacles or any difficulty.
So when did things become difficult for Sadda Haq?
The film was completed in 2012. Censor rejected the film at first attempt and asked the government to probe the funding of the film. When we reached out to the review committee they too wanted to ban the film. Then we contacted SGPC and showed them the movie. Mr Rajinder Mehta and other committee members found nothing wrong in the movie and issued us a supporting letter. The film tribunal at Delhi watched the film and green signaled it.
SGPC was a big help during the process when censor board objected on some scenes and slogans. Sadda Haq got passed through censor but then yellow journalism tried to sabotage the film by writing articles like the film is threat to the peace of country and made some allegations on the funding of film. A day before the release, all the theatre owners were sent notice to not to screen the film. Except Mumbai & overseas, our film got banned everywhere (Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, etc).
At large it was being said that the intentions of these unpopular makers was not too clean but our film Mini Punjab was the answer to all these allegations. Commercially, Mini Punjab was a losing affair for us but it helped us as it made everyone aware that we did not come randomly from anywhere. When this grapevine settled down, political parties joined the bandwagon against us and the film.
But when Sadda Haq was to be released, Akali Dal was in power who had always held up against rival political party for turmoil in Punjab.
True. In fact SGPC was backing our film. The allies (mainly BJP’s Balram Ji Tondon) of ruling party and a DGP started pressurizing the govt to put a ban on the film as the film talked about their wrongdoings too. Then a former Punjab CM’s grandson made hue and cry and we had to take the legal route. Our Legal advisors Amar Singh Chahal and Navkiran Singh helped us to win the case in Supreme Court where Colin Gonsalves fought the case for us and we won.
Before giving the decision in our favour CJI Altamash Kabir asked the top 7 lawyers of Supreme Court to watch the movie in the court and decide. Phalinariman, Indra jai singh, Rajeev Dhawan and the other members of the esteemed bench decided in our favour and we finally released the movie on 10 may 2013 in India.
Did the industry support?
Many big artists from our industry reached out to me. Gurpreet Ghuggi, Binnu Dhillon, Rana Ranbir, Diljit Dosanjh, Amrinder Gill, were amongst those who encouraged me.
Babbu Maan had worked on Hawaein (based on 1984 genocide) before so I approached him for a promotional song but things did not work out. He appreciated the effort but also warned me of the consequences by sharing his own experiences.
I met Jazzy Bains to get support for the film and he even went out of his way and offered to do promotional song Baagi for the film. He did all this on his own and did not charge a single penny. It was so kind of him that he stood by our film and did the promotional song free of cost.
Success of Film
It was a good feeling but frankly I wanted to make a film on this subject for a long time.
Commercial success means people came and watched the film. It was satisfactory that all the hard work and hardships we went through were paid off.
The sequel and aftermath!
I have been often asked about its sequel. But It’s not good to follow a trend for commercial gain specifically for a subject like this. I will talk about it when there is something concrete.
It so happened that I was being followed, my car was attacked once and I was getting threats. But contrary to that our effort got appreciated by many. People come to me and praised me for showing the reality. It meant a lot. Kuljinder Singh Sidhu says on a concluding note.
Directed by Mandeep Benipal, Sadda Haq had Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, Dev Kharoud, Gaurav Kakkar, Dhriti Saharan, Dinesh Sood, Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Himanshi Khurana, Yaad Grewal, Talwinder Bhullar, Sandeep Kapoor, Naginder Gakhar, Neeraj Kaushik, Gurpreet Kaur Bhangu, Sukhwinder Raj, Amritpal Billa, Ramnik Sidhu, Nidhi Sidhu and Parmod Moutho in principle cast.
Sadda Haq was a true depiction through fictional characters. It talked about government’s failure to acknowledge the core issues of the state. In stead of finding out solutions they suppressed the voice of people which resulted in conflicts with government and rise of rebellion which had nothing to do with religious conflict as fabricated by media back then and even now. Sadda Haq as a film managed to express a lot of past mistakes of system, which should be further avoided for the betterment of the country and its people.
Sadda Haq Trivia
- Amrinder Gill was approached for the second male lead role. He could not do the film but supported the film when it was banned.
- Yo Yo Honey Singh was offered the role which was finally done by Gaurav Kakkar. But he was interested in another role.
- Sadda Haq released in April 2013 in Mumbai and in overseas markets but could release in Punjabi after a month in May due to the ban.
- Gurdas Maan was approached for a promotional song.
- Babbu Maan was approached for a promotional song.
- Hindi films like Chashme Budoor, Aashiqui 2,Shootout at Wadala were released close to Sadda Haq.
- Prem Singh Sidhu had assisted on the film.
- Nominated for Best Film, Best Director (Mandeep Benipal), Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor (Gaurav Kakkar), Best Negative role (Yaad Grewal), Best screenplay (Kuljinder Singh Sidhu) & dialogues (Kuljinder Singh Sidhu & Jaggi Kussa). Kuljinder Singh Sidhu & Dhriti Saharan won Best Actor (critics) and Best Actress (critics) awards for the film.
- Sadda Haq was reportedly made on the budget of 3 crore.
- When asked about the ban, Hindi film bigwigs like Om Puri & Madhur Bhandarkar also expressed their displeasure over the ban on the film.
- The pirated copy was already circulating but despite of it film became a blockbuster and second biggest hit of 2013 after Jatt and Juliet-2.
