Now, Punjabi films portray women consuming alcohol. Denounce the degradation of Punjabi and Sikh values.

This is an email I sent to Satluj TV on 25/10/2024:
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Hello 

I have seen Satluj TV videos of Sikhs demonstrating vociferously and in large numbers, outside Gurdas Maan events in Bakersfield and Stockton (USA).

I strongly recommend that Satluj TV and Sikhs and Punjabis show even greater outrage against the producers of, and actors in, Punjabi films depicting the consumption of alcohol by men and now by women, especially those who appear to be Sikhs.

I have previously expressed my dismay over alcohol consumption in Punjabi films and the selling of alcohol and cigarettes by Sikh shop keepers: 

I personally abhor those who cultivate alcoholism in Punjabi films (directors and producers) and who portray Sikhs merrily knocking back liquor.  It is right that art portrays reality, but I do not endorse "art" that gratuitously promotes alcohol and in so doing, lures impressionable viewers to also drink. 

I do not regard those "Sikhs" who sell liquour and cigarettes to shoppers, as genuine Sikhs.  Sure they will argue they are earning money from their own efforts and not living off state handouts, but consider the obvious conflict of what they are peddling to the basic principles of Sikhi. 

If that conflict is not enough to show these retailers are not genuine Sikhs, then consider the lives they are directly and indirectly destroying through their peddling of alcohol and drugs to addicts.  Also consider the additional strain their trade is placing on local health services.

These peddlars of liquor might also argue, that if they stopped selling liquour and cigarettes then someone else will sell these drugs.  That is likely, but stopping trading in drugs is not solely about money.  By no longer peddling misery through the sale of drugs, I hope these retailers will feel a personal satisfaction (of following Sikh principles) that outweighs any dissatisfaction from their monetary loss.

I am again shocked because I have now seen such behaviour in young Punjabi women.


The image below is from a 2023 Punjabi film (see here for production info) and shows a middle-aged Punjabi woman knocking back alcohol.  She is assumed to be a Sikh woman because her husband pours the drink for her and he is bearded and wearing a turban, i.e., he is obviously a Sikh.
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This evening I watched another Punjabi film (released in 2022- see details here).  

Soon after it began, I was shocked to see a group of young Punjabi women sitting round a table with bottles of alcohol, and one of them pouring herself a glass of "duty free".  Earlier in the clip she had asked her friend if she had brought the "duty free" (i.e., the alcohol)?  

The image below shows one of the women sharing her glass of alcohol with her younger brother.

​Though I did not actually see anyone of the women put the alcohol in their mouth, the intention is obvious: the film portrays Punjabi women casually consuming alcohol.  I did not watch the rest of the film after the first five minutes or so.

I have watched Punjabi films over many years.  It is common in these films to see men (including those men who appear to be Sikhs) consuming alcohol and being drunk.  It has only been in recent months that I have witnessed liquor consumption by Punjabi women - young and middle-aged.

I think this unwelcome development is a reflection of the widespread peddling of alcohol (and drugs) across the Punjab.  These films could also be an attempt to discredit Sikhs and Punjabis, or to encourage impressionable and gullible Punjabis and Sikhs to imitate actors they admire or to make them think drinking alcohol is normal behaviour or that it is "cool" to drink.

If this degradation of Punjabi and Sikh society, culture, and standards continues, where will it end?  Will we soon see films of Punjabi and Sikh men and women, or even children, snorting or injecting their arms with drugs, or lighting up cigarettes?

I can see parallels with western films.  Going back to the 1930s in Hollywood and the UK, it was common for the leading actors to offer each other drinks or a cigarette at every opportunity - when they met, when they fell ill, when they were injured, when they felt stressed, when they were elated, when they were cold, when they were eating, after they had eaten, to celebrate a birthday or a marriage, or when they were tired.  Smoking and drinking alcohol occurred so often in a film, I used to think these films had to be funded by liquor and tobacco companies.

I do not expect Sikh representative bodies that have been captured by politicians and/or peddlers of drugs and alcohol, to apply pressure on film producers and actors to stop such portrayals.  Nor do I expect politicians to speak out and denounce such films.  

The reasons why they won't condemn or stop such behaviour are obvious: money, power, they are captured by politicians and peddlers of alcohol and drugs, and because of the plan to destroy Punjabis, Sikhs, and Punjab.  

We have seen with Amritpal Singh what happens if anyone dares to stop the peddling of alcohol or drugs.  He is an exceptional politician.

I urge you to use your platform to speak out against such film makers and actors, and I urge you to contact Sikh and Punjabi organisations that are credible and are not captured, to join you in denouncing these bad actors who are destroying Punjabi and Sikh values and standards.

Gurdas Maan is just one person (albeit well-known and influential) but there is an entire film-making industry that should be of greater concern to you.

Feel free to publish my comments and name on your platform.

P Singh