By Emb Hashmi
Express Punjab – Drug Pandemic in Punjab
Express Punjab is a powerful and educational documentary highlighting the serious and damming effects of drug abuse in the state of Punjab in India.
Express Punjab takes a hard-hitting look at this negative phenomenon asking difficult questions such as why is this happening. How is it happening?
Gaurav Bavdankar the brave film producer who put the powerful documentary together, has previously worked with Sony made all of the advertisements for food company East End, and produced Television strands that included Everyman, Under the Sun,40 Minutes (for BBC), Football Stories, To The Ends of The Earth, True Stories (for Channel 4). Gaurav and his strong team has taken a pain staking year to put the hard hitting documentary together . Exclusively gaining interviews from drug abusers and their families in India.
In the documentary top policeman Iqbal Singh based in the Punjab, claims that 10% of police officers are ‘mixed up with the peddlers’ a staggering statement from someone so senior.
The startling statistic of 70% of the youth in Punjab are suffering from drug abuse, is evidence enough to awaken even the drowses of government officials.
17 – 87 is the age range of Punjabi men who are destroying their lives and their families as the drug abuse epidemic continues to be brushed under the carpet by a state that is in total denial.
The 30-minute documentary was produced to highlight and raise awareness of the deteriorating drug abuse issues in The Punjab.
Express Punjab, was narrated by top Asian actor Kulvinder Ghir and star of the hit comedy Goodness Gracious Me. Who has said “Today Punjab faces a new terror. One with no single dictator, no group invader, and no personal conscious. This has often been referred to as Punjab’s Drug Epidemic. Express Punjab is truly an eye opener and raises awareness”.
Shocking pieces of footage showing two 18 year old (names unknown) ‘shooting up’ with pharmaceutical drugs purchased from the local chemist for a Rs. 100/- (£1.20).
The documentary hopes to empower and educate people of the Punjab by highlighting the truth that Punjab is in a grip of a drug epidemic , and the main university in the region has claimed that a staggering 70% are estimated to be on drugs such as heroin, smack and pharmaceutical medical drugs.
Examples of Punjab residents such as a 87-year old Paramjeet Singh whose 25-year-old son Bala took an overdose and left his family in financial dire straits, as he was the only real breadwinner. His father reveals that he never got his son married because of his drug habits and he did not wish to see his daughter-in law become a widow at such an early age.
Another terrifying story illustrated in the documentary is of a 70 year old Singh who spends up to a 3rd of his daily wage in buying bukhi (A poppy husk) which he claims, it give him energy and puts him on a perpetual high.
Other contributors include journalist, Vijay Simha who puts into historical context the origin of the problem explaining how Punjab became a haven for drug peddlers from Afghanistan. Vijay Simha said in a blunt sentence “In 10 years’ time the butter chicken will still be there so will the bhangra but the young people of Punjab won’t be”.
The makers of documentary hope for it to be aired nationwide, in universities and film festivals, and in Punjab itself, to create awareness amongst the students. They are planning a series of premiers throughout the UK, where they will launch the eye opening documentary, which will be supported by a live British Asian based Jazz band, headed by Indi Wouhra dubbed as the British Asian ‘Sinatra’, nicked named by fans as Sikh Sinatra.
The music is a light hearted element to the serious issues portrayed in the documentary.
Indi Wouhra said “I would like to see this documentary aired in every household, we would like to evolve from this and produce more and more powerful films to highlight the many serious problems faced in India”.
The world premiere of the hard hitting documentary will be at the Drum on the 18th of November. Performing on the night will be Kulvinder Ghir who has added his support to this cause.
