This is the synopsis of a breakthrough new movie called “Chhalla Mud Ke Nahi Aaya — Chhalla Never Returned” starring acclaimed Punjabi singer and actor Amrinder Gill. The film was largely shot in the gold-era ghost town of Barkerville in BC’s interior, about 120 kilometers south of Prince George. It follows the fictional story of a Punjabi immigrant named Chhalla, but is inspired by the true stories of Punjabi laborers who come to Canada to work in the lumber mills in the early 20th century. The film is produced by Rhythm Boyz Entertainment, a Canadian entertainment company that also operates in India and the United States. It is one of the major players in the growing Punjabi film industry, catering to Punjabi speakers in India, Pakistan and diaspora communities around the world. The story is inspired by the true stories of Punjabi immigrants who came to B.C. to work in the lumberyards in the early 1900s. (Rhythm Boyz Entertainment) With a budget of over $1.5 million, the film is one of the most expensive Punjabi films to date and stars two of the biggest names in the Punjabi entertainment industry, Amrinder Gill and Sargun Mehta. Employed a crew of nearly 200 in BC. and tells the little-known story of the province’s first Sikh immigrants.
“Old history comes to life”
Satwinder Bains, director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, says her first reaction when she saw the film’s trailer was pure joy. “This is the old story come to life,” he said. “History is in the classroom. History is in our books. History is in our homes and now history is in the theater.” Bains, whose area of research includes immigration and racism, says she was glad to see the filmmakers did their research to tell the story. The production team transformed Alberni Valley’s heritage sawmill into the ‘Kimble Saw Mill’. (Rhythm Boyz Entertainment) Bains says films like these have the potential to inspire younger generations to learn about their history in a way that books or schools cannot, and should be seen as an “opening” for discussion and learning. “We need our communities to understand that we’ve been here over 100 years and that 100 years have been full of experiences — good, bad, indifferent and ugly.” The film also touches on the stories of other immigrant communities. Sydney Eberwein, the Vancouver-based actress who stars alongside Gill as the lead, says her character is based on an Italian immigrant who works as a maid trying to earn money to support her family back home. Sydney Eberwein, the Vancouver-based actor who stars alongside Gill, says the film also reflects the complex relationships between different immigrant experiences in B.C. at the beginning of the 20th century. (Submitted by Sydney Eberwein) Talking about the similarities between her and Gill’s characters, Eberwein says their first interaction in the film perfectly reflects the parallels between BC’s immigrant communities and through her character, the film is able to touch briefly on the Italian experience of immigrants in BC “I say in Italian ‘Io sono come te.’ I’m like you,” said Eberwein.
Growing demand for varied entertainment
The film grossed $665,000 in its July 29 opening weekend, according to film industry publication Deadline. It marks the directorial debut for Amrinder Gill, who also stars as the film’s lead. Gill started his career as a Punjabi singer in 1999 with Doordarshan Kendra, India’s public broadcaster and has produced and starred in 22 films since 2009. Sydney Eberwein says the success of this film in and out of theaters shows that there is a demand for diverse voices on and off the screen. (Rhythm Boyz Entertainment) His song Mera Deewanapan topped the Asian music chart in 2014. He won Best Actor for his 2018 film Ashke and his 2019 film Chal Mera Putt became the highest grossing Punjabi film overseas. The film is also the first Punjabi film to be released in commercial theaters in Vancouver, apart from traditional markets such as Surrey and Richmond. While stories revolving around different characters were previously seen as niche, Bains says people are realizing that these stories can be told in an entertaining and commercially successful way. “There’s a rich and powerful story that needs to be told, and it needs to be told in a way that’s really accessible to our communities. And it can also be profitable,” Bains said. A mostly Canadian crew of nearly 200 people swarmed the ghost town of Barkerville near Quesnel, BC, as production on the film began earlier this year. (Rhythm Boyz Entertainment) Eberwein says the warm welcome to this film shows there is a demand for diverse films that portray a myriad of viewpoints. “This film sets the stage for the scale of production that can be done here for a Punjabi film.”