Dit opmerkelijke debuut van Gurvinder Singh, gebaseerd op de gelijknamige roman van Gurdial Singh, verhaalt een dag in het leven van een plattelandsfamilie die in Punjab het hoofd biedt aan de sloop van hun dorp. “Anhey Ghorhey da Daan probeert gestalte te geven aan het effect van jarenlange onderdrukking van de lagere klasses. De film handelt over stille getuigen die hun eigen lot niet kunnen veranderen of beïnvloeden, over het onzichtbare geweld van de machthebbers en de smeulende ontevredenheid die van hun gezichten kan worden afgelezen.” (GS) Deze film is opgedragen aan Mani Kaul, die optrad als creative producer, net voor zijn dood.

“Mani’s mentorship was a continuation of such inspiring thoughts. He, unlike any other mentor, could unlock your unique individuality and bring it to maturation. His parting words were, ‘Don’t listen to anyone. Just do what you think is right.’ But it was Mani Kaul’s films that left a lasting impression. And through his practice I understood Bresson’s manner of depiction. Everything came together in those works, all that one had thought, read, seen and felt. When we were shooting Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan, I used to tell my assistants that I am trying to bring together Mani and Ghatak and find a common ground. There seemed to be a deep chasm between them. Initially even I could not come to terms with Ghatak’s melodrama. But slowly his sensory world overtook, the images took on meanings of their own accord and actors and their antics became a part of the cosmos. Mani’s restraint and Ghatak’s exuberance are both relevant for me and to cinema in general.” (GS)

Punjabi with English subtitles