Sukhpreet Kahlon
New Delhi, 17 Oct 2021 13:47 IST
Produced by Richa Chadha, the short film examines the phenomenon of fake encounters in Punjab in the 1980s.
Power preys on the weak. Always has and probably always will. While the people affected become faceless numbers, Rupinder Inderjit’s Punjabi-language short Khoon Aali Chitthi looks at the human cost of violence. The film places an adolescent youth's innocent story in the milieu of Punjab in the late 1980s, when innumerable youngsters were killed in fake encounters.
Khoon Aali Chitthi, which translates as Written In Blood, examines Binder’s dilemma as his beloved writes him letters in blood, signifying the depth of her feelings for him. Eager to reciprocate her passion, Binder wishes to also write a letter in his blood but finds that he is unable to do so. As the task at hand consumes him, we are told about the atmosphere in the village and the fact that young men are being labelled militants and randomly picked up or shot by the police.
The film situates the action in rural Punjab and the evocative music and production design recreate the milieu. The seemingly innocent premise of the film has dark undertones as the imminent violence and bloodshed is signalled through the letter that Binder wishes to write. The action moves swiftly from the banter between the lads to their innocent world being shattered in the blink of an eye. The swiftness with which it happens takes you by surprise.
The filmmaker gives us little details that build the atmosphere — the talk of masculinity by Binder’s friend, Binder’s bravado and his talk of being able to murder anyone, the police officer who is eager to get another star on his shoulder, all add nuance to an otherwise simple story.
The blatant disregard for facts and the callous way in which violence is meted out makes one’s hair stand on end. It also makes us acutely aware of what power in the wrong hands can do.
Starring Manpreet Gill, Jaskamal Gill and Anmol Gill, the short was produced by Richa Chadha and Rupinder Inderjit and is part of the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films on YouTube.