Punjab bans Punjabi movie ‘Shooter’

Taking a serious note of a Punjabi movie depicting the life of Punjab-based notorious gangster 'Sukha Kahlwan', Punjab has banned the screening of 'Shooter', Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said.

The movie, `Shooter’, allegedly promoting violence, heinous crimes, extortion, threats and criminal intimidation, is based on the life of Sukha Kahlwan, a resident of Kahlwan village in Kapurthala district of Punjab.

The Chief Minister has also directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to look into the possible action that could be initiated against one of the film’s producers, KV Dhillon, who had reportedly promised in writing, back in 2019, that he would shelve the movie, originally titled `Sukha Khalwan.’

The DGP has also been asked to look into the role of the promoters, directors and actors of the movie, an official spokesperson of the CM said.

Amarinder Singh has made it clear that his government will not allow any movies, songs, etc. that seek to promote crime, violence and gangsterism or crime in the state, which had flourished during the Akali regime, under the patronage of SAD leaders.

The Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress government has come a long way in the past three years to restore the state’s law and order, which had hit a new low under the previous SAD-BJP regime, pointed out the spokesperson, adding that the CM had directed the police to ensure that nothing is allowed to disturb Punjab’s peace and communal harmony.

The DGP disclosed that the matter of banning this controversial movie in Punjab had been discussed at a meeting with the CM on Friday, along with a proposal from ADGP Intelligence Varinder Kumar, recommending a ban on the movie

In view of the expected repercussions of the movie on the youth and apprehensions of disturbance of public order, “it would be appropriate if the release and screening of the movie be banned in the state of Punjab,” the ADGP had further stated, in a letter to Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice.

The producer had earlier given his commitment after the Mohali police received a complaint about the movie glorifying gangster Kahlwan, who used to describe himself as “sharpshooter” and was allegedly involved in more than 20 cases, including murder, kidnapping and extortion. He was shot dead by gangster Vicky Gounder and his accomplices on January 22, 2015, while he was being brought back to Nabha jail in Patiala after a court hearing in Jalandhar.

In his letter, Dhillon had written to SSP Mohali that “since you are of the opinion that the content of the film may hurt law and order situation, I am discontinuing the film project.” But instead of abandoning the project, the producers evidently went ahead with the film, which was now scheduled for release on February 21 under the new title with a new name for its leading protagonist, according to the DGP.

The decision to ban the movie comes less than 10 days after the Mansa Police registered a case against Punjabi singers Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu (Sidhu Moose Wala) and Mankirat Aulakh for propagating violence and crime through a video clip uploaded on social media.

It may be recalled that the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Civil Writ Petition had already directed the DGPs of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory, Chandigarh to ensure that no songs are played glorifying the liquor, drugs and violence even in the live shows. The Court had further directed that District Magistrates/SSPs of each district would be personally responsible for strict compliance of these directions.

About Sukha Kahlwan

His real name was Sukhvir Singh Kahlwan but was notoriously known as Sukha Kahlwan. A resident of Kahlwan village in Kapurthala district near Jalandhar in Punjab, Sukha Kahlwan was considered the number one gangster of Punjab and was just 28 --year-old at the time of his death.

A matriculate from a government school Kahlwan in Kapurthala, he was involved in over 40 criminal cases including two murder and 9 attempts to murder.

The Son of NRI parents Sudarshan Singh ( father) and Harjinder Kaur (mother) Sukhvir was very fond of weapons since childhood and lived with his parent abroad but later shifted to Jalandhar and was dragged in the crime world.

After escaping unhurt in four encounters with the police Sukha constantly eluded cops.

He married his girlfriend in 2008 but the couple legally seperated in 2014.

Sukha was very tech-savvy and active on social media. He was operating three Facebook accounts (Sukha Kahlon Sharp Shooter) and was updating them even after being lodged in high security Model Jail Kapurthala.

Interestingly, his Facebook accounts are being updated till today.