THE hit short Punjabi movie Nooran is winning appreciation in B.C. where a private screening is being held today at The Grand Taj Banquet Hall in Surrey BC.

The movie premiered last Sunday (September 22) at PIFF (Punjabi International Film Festival) Toronto, and got rave reviews all over the world.

Acknowledging movies as the biggest influence on our society and the intent to show some meaningful cinema was the reason behind putting in all the hard work into making the movie, commented Navtej Sandhu.

Nooran is Navtej Sandhu’s debut film based on renowned Punjabi dramatist and short story writer Balwant Gargi’s “Rabbo Marasan” with Kul Sidhu, a renowned theatre artiste who was appreciated for her role in Gurvinder Singh’s National Award winning Punjabi film Anhe Ghore Da Daan, and veteran Punjabi actor and theatre artist Sardar Sohi.

The supporting cast of Nooran includes Jaswant Jass, Gurinder Makna and Gurbinder Bhatti – all from the world of theatre. The movie’s music talent includes singers Anuj Charturvedi and Meenu Sharma Chaturvedi and lyricist Amardeep Singh Gill.

“I decided to choose actors with a background in theatre since I believe that they are the ones who can remain authentic to their roles,” Navtej told reporters at a press conference.

Putting a three-page story on the camera through effective screenplay, narration and direction is an art that take years of practice, and only a few can execute that.

Sharing his happiness he says, “It was a challenge for me to make a short movie, because I have to complete a story in 30 minutes and get the right message out to the audience. I am very much satisfied with my film, and this is my biggest achievement.”

Navtej has been associated with the Punjabi entertainment industry ever since he graduated from Khalsa College, Amritsar, in 1993. Not many know that Navtej started by organising live concerts of various singers through Sur Saanjh, a group he created and which is now associated with the film and music industry of Punjab. In 2002, his group helped promote Punjabi film Jee Aayan Nu, starring Harbhajan Mann and Priya Gill, which marked a renaissance of Punjabi cinema, according to Hindustan Times.

Navtej has promoted numerous Punjabi films and actors. In 2007, he also started a Punjabi film festival, managed by the group Sur Saanjh, to honour the unique talent in Punjabi cinema.