TORONTO: Canadian Sikh kids from Windsor Ontario have captured the heart of the Sikh sangat and touched the mainstream world citizens across the borders beyond one could have imagined by creating a captivating documentary-drama movie. “Kivein Bhullaan - How Can We Forget", a production of Windsor Sikh Youth led by 12 year old Japman Kaur and 9 year old Triman Singh emerged as the First Place Winner of the 2009 SikhNet Youth Film Festival in the Junior Division (Age 11-17 years).

Team Haloonaa humbly announced on Sunday that these great kids have won laurels at such a young age by making this inspirational award-winning movie to mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Sikh Holocaust of 1984.

According to Japman Kaur, “even after these 25 years, the wounds left by the 1984 genocide are still simmering, especially the wounds that have been neglected by denying justice. Kivein Bhullaan attempted to express the pain inflicted on the Sikh nation by the 1984 holocaust”. She further added, “Although the characters shown in this video were not real, they truly represented what the Sikh nation experienced during the genocide.

This story is about the life of a Sikh woman named Gian Kaur after the events of June and November 1984. How she has been affected by the murder of her husband, father, son and grandson in the Harmandar Sahib complex and by the gang-rape and scorching of her daughter-in-law during the November anti-Sikh pogroms, both of which she witnessed with her very eyes.

This movie showed how the Prime Minister of India has opened new wounds by telling Sikhs to forget 1984 and move forward.  His statement imposed an unbearable, new pain upon Gian Kaur that eventually killed her twenty-five years after suffering in wait and hope for justice. By putting together this movie, we made an honest effort to connect ourselves with the silent and painful struggle of Sikh Nation towards justice with a final positive message of high spirit”.

This movie highlighted the huge mistake of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for telling Sikhs to forget 1984 in spite of the fact that the leaders of these crimes, although clearly identified, continue to walk free and be welcomed in the corridors of power. “He is known to be an upright, honest and capable man to lead India. He should have stood for this cause to uphold justice as firmly as he stood for the Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement,” remarked Triman Singh.

He also said, “Although we cannot see any hope, and this night of atrocities and suffering does not seem to end, this video tried to inspire the audience to follow our Guru, connect with our invaluable heritage, come out of victim mentality, keep the wounds of the 1984 Sikh genocide deep inside our hearts, and promise to rekindle the Charhdikala (high spirit) of Sikh nation.”

Sukhwinder Singh, a famous director and producer of animation movies from Vismaad, expressed: “Amazing. Most amazing work. I have no words to appreciate this great accomplishment of my dearest Young Khalsa. May Waheguru Bless everyone associated with this movie so that they can continue their mission of waking the Sikh Nation at large from its deep slumber”.  Vismaad is well known for making popular 2D-Animated movies on Sikh History such as Sahibzadey, The Rise of Khalsa, Sundri and Bhai Taru Singh.

Lead characters in this movie are Japman Kaur as Gian Kaur (Giano), Triman Singh as Mehinga Singh (Mehinga), Khushman Kaur as Bhajan Kaur (Bhajano), Paramjot Singh as Prime Minister. Other characters are Sangat Singh as Mehinga’s son Makhan Singh (Makhan), Simran Kaur as Gian Kaur’s husband Roop Singh, Sahibjot Singh as Gian Kaur’s son Sevak Singh, Sukhman Singh as Gian Kaur’s daughter-in-law Gurleen Kaur, Jiman Singh as Bhajan Kaur’s son Jinder Singh (Jindu), Kuljit Singh as Gian Kaur’s  father-in-law Bahadar Singh and as Narrator 1, Satroop Kaur as Narrator 2, Avneet Kaur as News Anchor 1, Jivan Kaur as News Anchor 2. Other participants are Rajdeep Kaur, Neha Kaur, Netu Kaur, Baljot Kaur, Ramanpreet Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Amol Kaur, Aggam Kaur, Ekam Kaur, Amritpal Singh, Simran Kaur, Amar Singh, Tejveer Singh, Tarandeep Kaur, Harjot Singh, Prabhgun Singh and Arshdeep Singh.