Directed by Gurvinder Singh, “Chauthi Koot", the first Punjabi language film which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, 2015, is set to release pan-India on August 5.
The film was screened in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section at the Cannes Film Festival.Set during the Sikh separatist movement during the 1980s, “Chauthi Koot” has been adapted from two stories written by Waryam Singh Sandhu called “Chauthi Koot” and “Hun Main Theek Haan”.The film was shot mostly around Amritsar and Ferozepur in Punjab.Among other accolades, the film was screened in over 13 international and Indian film festivals and won the best film award in the India Gold section at MAMI, 2015 along with the 2016 National Award for the best feature in the Punjabi language.
The film has been produced by Kartikeya Singh under his banner The Film Café along with France based Catherine Dussart of Catherine Dussart Productions and National Film Development Corporation (India)."I’m happy that 'Chauthi Koot' is finding mainstream release in India, not just in Punjab but outside the linguistic boundary of Punjab. Because cinema is a universal language that speaks of humanitarian concerns, it knows no limitation of the spoken language,” the director said in a statement."I'm sure the film will speak to the audience across the country, as it addresses concerns not just limited to Punjab and its history, but reflects the tumult across the world in today’s time, and the human endeavour to continue to live a life of dignity and simplicity in the face of turbulence,” he added.The Film Café will be releasing and distributing "Chauthi Koot" in over 50 screens in Punjab and nearly 30 screens in the major cities across India with English subtitles.