Haryana theatres refuses Khap movie screening - Khap Movie

Fearing attacks by the Khap sympathizers, the theater owners across Haryana on Friday preferred not to show the much awaited controversial movie 'Khap-A story of honour killing' which apparently denigrates the social institution, held in reverence by large section of the society in the State.

State residents wishing to catch this week’s Bollywood release 'Khap-A story of honour killing' are in for disappointment. No multiplex in Haryana is screening the film after widespread protests by the All India Jat Mahasabha on the controversial subject.

“The cinema owners in Haryana are terrorized to screen the film because of the overt aggressiveness of Khap leaders. Those who were interested to show the movie in their theaters were also forced by the powerful Khap leaders and local police to cancel the scheduled shows,” said the film’s Haryana distributor Manohar Lal. Lal said that at a few places the screening of the movie was stopped by the police saying that the screening could spark violence in the area. 
Haryana Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order, BS Sandhu denied any kind of interference by the police during the screening of the film.
“In fact, we are ready to provide any kind of security during the screening of the film. Police personnel were deployed to the cinemas to avoid any untoward incident but the cinema owners themselves decided not to screen the movie,” claimed Sandhu.
The official further stated that the Haryana police was fully committed to maintain law and order in the State and nobody would be allowed to take law in his hand.

Khap and Jat leaders have already opposed the movie for destroying images of khap panchayats. Mr. Om Prakash Mann, state president of All India Jat Mahasabha, told Hindustan Times from Bhiwani that they would not allow the movie to be screened anywhere in Haryana.

“Khap panchayats have never favored or supported honor killings. But the movie is a calculative move to make money by maligning the age-old institution,” Mann said.

Khap movie starred by Om Puri, directed by Ajai Sinha, was released across the country on Friday. However, none of the cinema halls or multiplexes screened the movie in Haryana, except Anand cinema hall in Sonipat. It, too, withdrew the movie's screening after a single show following an advisory from the district police. Posters of the film were also removed from the hall, which wore a deserted look.   
Anant Verma, head operations, DT Cinemas, however, said, “We are not screening the film in South Delhi and Gurgaon halls as we do not have a slot. Other English and Hindi films are doing good business.” 

Om Puri wants to be act like Anna Hazare- Khap Movie

There are many belief systems across the globe, but not all of them are good. The Khap panchayat in Indian villages follows one such custom, which has been killing young couples in the name of honor for years now.

Actor Om Puri and producer-director Ajai Sinha (Ananda Film & Tele Communication Pvt. Ltd.), who feel strongly about this issue, have come together to voice their thoughts through their movie Khap. "Someone has to take the first step to end this. I am not waiting for somebody to wake up one day and that is why I have stood up against it," says Actor Om Puri.

Ajai, who's the director of the film, says the primary motivation behind making this movie was not just success or monetary gain. "It's for awareness among the youth. I have made this movie to make our country wake up and notice that while we might just fuss over everyday life, there are still customs like Khap in villages that don't let people live their lives their way." The film has got no political support because the topic is sensitive and no politician wants to be associated with it. "It doesn't matter if anyone supports us or not," says Om. "We know that we have made the right movie. If Anna Hazare can stand alone, fight against corruption and make the nation realise the importance of it, I am sure we can do the same here. Even if we get support or not, the fight against the Khap panchayats from our side is on!" he signs off.
The movie releases tomorrow with a hope that it's the first step towards eradicating this inhuman custom.

Om Puri as Chautala – Khap Movie

Om Puri's character in the movie "Khap" bears a striking resemblance to Haryana's political heavyweight Om Prakash Chautala.

While the director Ajai Sinha insists otherwise, the get-up of Om Puri's character seems to be adding political angle to the film. Though Puri has clarified that he's portraying just a khap head, sources say that the movie deals with many aspects of Haryanavi life, including the politicking.

Ajai Sinha said, "It's just coincidence. My movie doesn't intend to hint at any politician." Sources say Puri's green turban and its tying style is exactly the same as Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) head Om Prakash Chautala. And that's not all – Puri's name in the film is Omkar Singh Chaudhary.

I am against honor killing: Om Puri

Veteran actor Om Puri, who is looking forward to his upcoming film 'Khap', that deals with the issue of honour killing, says cinema has become a business and he is not happy with the kind of roles he has been offered.

"Cinema has become business minded...it has become more greedy and money-minded. I am not happy about it. I don't believe in the cinema that only entertains. I believe entertainment is important but at the same time it is also important that we raise social issues. We need to talk about or show issues through the medium cinema," Puri told.

'Khap', directed by Ajai Sinha, who is known for TV shows like 'Hasratein', 'Astitva' and 'Ghar Ek Sapna', is a story about much-talked about Khap Panchayat and the issue of honour killing.

"There are several other issues like unemployment, crime and corruption that need to be highlighted. In villages people do not have electricity, water and proper roads. If we talk about Mumbai, there is so much dirt on the street, due to which, diseases spread. There is mosquito and rat breeding."

"The municipality is effective only in places where high class society people reside. Like in Malabar Hill area you will not find dirt while in Ghatkopar, Malad, Charkop areas you will see unclean environment," Puri said.

The veteran actor is also not satisfied with the roles that comes his way.

"Ageing is there not only in films. You grow...you age...and you retire. I am not happy with the roles I am getting...I think I deserve better," he said.

For the past few years, Puri has largely been associated with several madcap comedies such as Hera Pheri (2000), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Singh Is Kinng (2008) and Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008) and Teen Thay Bhai (2011).

Presently, the 60-year-old actor is looking forward to his role as a stern sarpanch (head of Panchayat) in 'Khap'.

"I heard about the issue through newspapers. I am against this. I believe any person does not have the right to kill anyone. There is no law existing in our country that allows anyone to kill someone. The need of the hour is to implement the law," Puri said.

"You make people aware about the issue and you expect people to raise their voice against it and hope the government to change the laws...to make effective laws. The movie will evoke some kind of debate in the society," he said.

Puri will be seen in Karan Johar's remake of the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 'Agneepath' with Hrithik Roshan in the lead and in the sequel of Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Don'.

Produced by Sangita Sinha and Siddhant Sinha of Ananda Film and Telecommunications, 'Khap' also has actor Govind Namdev, Manoj Pahwa, Anooradha Patel, Mohnish Bahl and Yuvika Choudhary of 'Om Shanti Om' fame. The film releases on July 29

Khap leaders oppose film on honor killing - Khap Movie

The movie 'Khap - a story of honor killing, based on Haryana's notorious caste panchayats, has invited wrath of the village bodies. 

The khap leaders have demanded a ban on the movie in the region and have informed the Haryana government. The movie is slated for release on July 29 in Haryana. 

Prominent khaps, including Meham Chaubisi Panchayat, Dahiya khap, Bhanwala khap, Dhankar khap and even women's wing of Sarv Khap Panchayat have threatened not to allow screening of the movie in theatres, claiming the promos of the movie indicated that it portrays them in negative light. 

"We have been struggling to make the media and authorities understand us. Khaps bind the society by conserving traditions, but are open to changes. We never order any honour killing. Portrayal of khap members as blood thirsty fanatics is entirely wrong", said septuagenarian pradhan of Meham Chaubisi Panchayat, Randhir Singh.
He also demanded intervention of the government. "The filmmaker is out to cash in on the issue. For him, it's a commercial venture. The promos of the movie indicate that it has shown the khap panchayats as perpetrators of honour killings, which is untrue". 

Santosh Dahiya, pradhan of women's wing of the Sarv Khap Panchayat, which has been advocating participation of women in decision-making in panchayats, said the movie aimed at tarnishing the image of khap panchayats. "I have talked with senior khap leaders and lawyers and am planning to serve a legal notice on the film director. The film is an attack on our culture and we will oppose it," she said. 

Another khap leader, Baljit Singh Malik of Gathwala khap, which is said to be progressive, also objected to the movie. "These people don't understand the pain of the society. Their sole aim is to make money and this film too has been made aiming at commercial success." 

Director of the movie, Ajay Sinha, however, said the film was just a reflection of the incidents occurred in the recent past. "The film is not against khap panchayats. We have also highlighted their positive side. It's about the conflict between generations leading to bloodshed and the film is a comment on this violent phenomenon".

Khap Movie Information

Khap Movie

Release Date
July 29, 2011

Genre
Social

Banner / Distributor
Ananda Film & Telecommunications Pvt. Ltd

Music Label
SAGA Music

CAST

Om Puri
Govind Namdeo
Manoj Pahwa
Uvika Chaudhary
Mohnish Behl
Anuradha Patel
Shammi
Alok Nath

CREW

Director
Ajai Sinha

Producer
Sangita Sinha, Siddhant Sinha

Lyricist
Yogesh, Nida Fazli, Kumaar, Panchhi Jalonvi

Music Director
Annujj Kappoo

Cinematographer
Lokesh Bhalla

Choreographer
Pony Verma, Habiba Rehman

Action Director
Baboo Khanna

Editor
Sanjay Sankla

Sound Designer
Rajendra Hegde

Khap Movie shot in 2 villages in Maharashtra

When director Ajai Sinha wanted to shoot Khap, a film based on honor killings in Haryana, he had his apprehensions about the safety of his actors and crew after he saw the reaction of an elderly man in Haryana. “What wrong do we do if we kill our own children?” was the man's chilling query. Unwilling to shoot in there, Sinha created the ambience of North India's state in Wai and Phaltan villages in Maharashtra.
“It was terribly hot when we shot there, but all the actors including Om Puri, Yuvika Chaudhary and Sartaj Gill were so charged that nothing seemed to affect them. The film is about the change of heart that Om Puri, a sarpanch goes through when his own granddaughter is about to become a victim of the Khap diktats. "In this scene, Om Puri has been thrown out of the panchayat. Yuvika's husband, played by Sartaj Gill, brings a court order to take his wife to Delhi but the villagers oppose them. Om Puri has gone through a change of mind and is ready to do anything to protect his granddaughter,” said Sinha. The film releases on July 29.