Indian filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s feature film Rehmat explores themes of displacement and inherited grief through three narratives set in present-day Punjab, according to an interview with Variety. Adapted from short stories by Punjabi writer Ajeet Cour, the film marks the sole Indian feature in the main competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, competing for the Pardo d’Oro. Production on the project was heavily influenced by real-world tragedies encountered during scouting, including the fatal drug overdose of a 19-year-old boy living in the house designated as the protagonist’s ancestral home.
Real-World Tragedy Shapes Film’s Exploration of Punjab
While scouting locations for the project, Singh and his crew visited the home intended to serve as the ancestral residence of character Rashid Ali. Shortly after that initial meeting, the family residing in the house lost their 19-year-old son to a drug overdose, according to Singh’s statements to Variety. “When I looked at him, the first thought that ran in my mind was that he was on drugs. And he died of an overdose within two months,” Singh told the publication. The filmmaker noted that experiencing such events firsthand made it impossible to avoid depicting such a state of affairs in the region.
The film adapts stories by Ajeet Cour, focusing on uprootedness and displacement. Singh noted a personal connection to the material, as Cour belongs to the same generation as his grandparents, who migrated from Lahore and other parts of west Punjab to Delhi. Three decades after beginning his documentation of Punjab’s folk ballads and oral histories, and 15 years after his debut feature Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan premiered in Venice, Singh stated that Rehmat provided a sense of personal closure regarding the trauma of the divided land and its people.
Naseeruddin Shah Takes on the Role of Rashid Ali
Naseeruddin Shah stars in Rehmat as Rashid Ali, a Punjabi Muslim man who left before the Partition and returns to his birthplace after a lifetime in England. Shah committed to the project prior to knowing any of its specifics, driven by his familiarity with Singh’s previous work. “I’d seen and been deeply moved by Gurvinder’s films,” Shah told Variety. “His cinematic sensibility and his take on the turmoil in his home state made profound statements.”
Singh approached Shah with only a vague outline of the character. The actor’s involvement allowed the filmmaker to expand the role. Although Shah is not Punjabi and does not speak the language fluently, he relied on practice to prepare for the part. Discussing the character’s ambiguity—specifically an early scene where Rashid introduces himself to the village as God—Shah remarked that an actor does not need to fully psychoanalyze a character to portray them effectively.
Cinematic Style and Location Realism
Singh utilizes long, unbroken takes throughout Rehmat to establish spatial and temporal continuity. The filmmaker noted that uninterrupted camera movement creates an engaging experience for the spectator, though montage is employed where long takes are impractical. Shah expressed support for this approach, comparing the cinematic long take to his stage work.
The visual environment of the film was heavily shaped by the actual conditions of the chosen locations. Crumbling 19th-century school buildings and untended village lanes influenced the narrative framework. Singh described the contemporary outlook in rural Punjab as bleak due to prevalent attitudes surrounding land ownership, caste, and entrenched gender disparities, which he noted drive many young girls to leave for the West.
Production Details and Supporting Cast
Alongside Shah, the ensemble cast features Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vashisht, Navjot Randhawa, and Diya Kamboj. Punjabi poet Jaswant Zafar makes his acting debut at age 60, portraying the character Harjap. Singh explained that casting non-actors in major roles involves allowing individuals to project their natural qualities and personal experiences onto the screen.
Rehmat is a co-production between India’s Vahao Studio and Paris-based Pavo Films, marking the debut project for the French outfit launched earlier this year by co-producers Andrei Cosmin Illes and Némésis Srour. Singh and Arpana Caur also serve as producers on the film.
Did you know? Rehmat is the only Indian feature film selected for the Concorso Internazionale main competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, where it competes for the Pardo d’Oro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the premise of Rehmat?
Directed by Gurvinder Singh, Rehmat adapts short stories by Punjabi writer Ajeet Cour to examine themes of displacement, inherited grief, and the division of land across three narratives set in present-day Punjab.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Naseeruddin Shah as Rashid Ali, alongside Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vashisht, Navjot Randhawa, Diya Kamboj, and Punjabi poet Jaswant Zafar in his acting debut.
Where did the film premiere?
Rehmat had its world premiere in the main competition (Concorso Internazionale) at the 79th Locarno Film Festival.
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