In a monumental achievement for independent Indian cinema, National Award-winning director Gurvinder Singh’s latest Punjabi-language feature film, Rehmat, has secured a coveted spot in the Main Competition at the 79th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. Starring the legendary Naseeruddin Shah, the deeply reflective drama will have its highly anticipated world premiere on August 6, 2026. This selection marks an extraordinary milestone as Rehmat stands proudly as the only Indian film chosen to compete for the festival’s most prestigious ultimate honor, the Pardo d’Oro, which is globally recognized as the Golden Leopard award. The inclusion of this poignant feature film also breaks a significant four-year dry spell for the country at the Swiss film gala, effectively marking India’s triumphant return to Locarno’s main international competitive track since Mahesh Narayanan’s Malayalam drama Ariyippu last represented the nation back in the year 2022.
The narrative backbone of Rehmat is beautifully crafted and takes its core inspiration from the critically acclaimed literary works of pioneering veteran Punjabi author Ajeet Cour, who is widely celebrated for her radical and powerful feminist perspectives. Gurvinder Singh, a master of slow-burning and evocative parallel cinema, meticulously adapted the screenplay from four of Cour’s distinct short stories, including Na Maro, Akhan, Chhutti, and Ik Pair Ghat Turna. The unique creative collaboration originally took root through the author’s daughter, the famous contemporary painter Arpana Caur, who introduced Singh to her mother’s extensive literature over several years and eventually stepped up to support the creative vision by joining the project as a direct producer alongside Vahao Studio and Paris-based Pavo Films. Set against the textured, sprawling backdrop of present-day Punjab, the film brilliantly interweaves three separate, deeply moving human narratives that gracefully dissect complex themes of generational trauma, historical displacement, cultural diversity, and deep-seated political division.
The powerhouse ensemble cast is anchored by the iconic Naseeruddin Shah, who delivers a riveting performance as Rashid Ali, an elderly patriarch whose family originally fled Punjab right on the cusp of the tragic 1947 Partition. After building a quiet life overseas in England for multiple decades, the character makes a poignant journey back to his ancestral roots and the exact village of his birth to confront the lingering ghosts of his personal history. Running alongside this heavy arc, the other intersecting narratives follow a brave young woman who risks everything to secretly shelter an injured stranger while hiding him from local police authorities, as well as a fractured family desperately trying to navigate their lives after the mysterious disappearance of a loved one, forcing an aging grandfather to shoulder the heavy domestic responsibilities of raising children without a father figure. The star-studded independent venture also features stellar supporting performances from acting heavyweights like Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vasisht, and Navjot Randhawa, while simultaneously introducing fresh newcomers to the silver screen, including Diya Kamboj, Harwinder Aujla, and the highly revered 51-year-old Punjabi poet Jaswant Zafar, who makes his formal cinematic acting debut.
Further elevating its international prestige ahead of the grand festival run, which is scheduled to take place from August 5 to August 15, 2026, Rehmat has also managed to score a brilliant double nomination by being shortlisted for the festival’s specialized Pardo for Change award. This unique secondary honor specifically celebrates cinematic works that spark profound global conversations around critical environmental, ethical, social, and cultural issues, placing Singh’s film among just 13 elite titles selected across various festival categories to vie for the prize. Reacting to the magnificent double-honor news, director Gurvinder Singh shared a moving statement explaining that this global recognition completely reaffirms his unwavering artistic belief in making cinema that prioritizes genuine quiet reflection over loud commercial spectacle. The acclaimed FTII alumnus, who previously made massive waves at the Venice and Cannes film festivals with his masterpieces Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan and Chauthi Koot, expressed deep gratitude that a reflective and deeply human space for cinema still carries immense relevance in a fast-paced, market-driven world.
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