Crime and Punishment

In 2006,Sharma had come across a story by the same name by Gurmeet Karyalvi in the newspaper,Nawan Zamana ,and it left an impact on his mind. “The newspaper runs an annual literary survey of the best writers and works from Punjab. In 2006,the second prize went to writer Karyalvi’s Aatu Khoji,a piece that had a great effect on me,” says Sharma. To Karyalvi’s tale,Sharma introduced nuggets from a recent a real-life a case,and created the storyline of a 40-minute-long feature called Aatu Khoji .

While the original story talks about Khoji,his life,sincerity and hard work,and how he looks upon reputation and values as being more important than money,the film brings Khoji face to face with a young girl caught in a dilemma.

This twist has been inspired by the Ruchika Girhotra case in which Girhotra’s friend,Aradhna Prakash continued for years to fight for justice.

“Rimma,the friend of my character goes through the same experience and is pressured by her parents to step back and forget about the whole incident. She is then packed off to her uncle’s village. On the way,she meets Aatu Khoji,” says Sharma. Rimma’s role has been played by Gunnit Kaur,a topper from the Department of Indian Theatre,while Samuel John essays the part of Khoji. John’s previous works include acting in Anhey Ghode Da Daan,the first Punjabi film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival.

Kaur,like the part she plays,ran a campaign for justice in her real life too. “She taught a lesson to her boyfriend,a student leader of a communist party,and someone who had cheated on her. She went across Punjab creating awareness about such men among girls,” says Sharma. He has started holding free public screenings in institutions across the state.