Gurvinder Singh's 'Rehmat' Competes at Locarno Film Festival

Gurvinder Singh's latest film, 'Rehmat', has been officially selected for the Main Competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. Competing for the Golden Leopard award, the film features a rich narrative inspired by Ajeet Cour's stories and stars renowned actors like Naseeruddin Shah. Set in modern Punjab, it intertwines three compelling tales, exploring themes of grief and identity. With its world premiere scheduled for August 6, 'Rehmat' promises to captivate audiences and reaffirm the relevance of meaningful cinema in today's fast-paced world. Read on to learn more about this exciting film and its journey to Locarno.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 10, 2026, 17:48 IST

Gurvinder Singh's Latest Film 'Rehmat' Selected for Locarno

Filmmaker Gurvinder Singh's new film, 'Rehmat', has been chosen to participate in the Main Competition at the prestigious 79th Locarno Film Festival, scheduled to take place in Switzerland from August 5 to 15.

The film will vie for the coveted Golden Leopard award, which comes with a cash prize of CHF 75,000 (approximately Rs 88 lakh). It will compete against notable directors such as South Korea's Hong Sang-soo, Canada's Denis Côté, Italy's Salvatore Mereu, and Romania's Florin Serban, among others.

'Rehmat' draws inspiration from the short stories of renowned Punjabi author Ajeet Cour and is co-produced by her daughter, painter Arpana Caur.

Set in contemporary Punjab, the film intertwines three distinct yet connected stories. One narrative follows a woman who discreetly cares for a wounded stranger in her home, while his family grapples with sorrow and difficult decisions. Concurrently, an enigmatic elderly man appears in a village, claiming to be 'God'.

The cast features acclaimed actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vasisht, Navjot Randhawa, along with newcomers Diya Kamboj, Harwinder Aujla, and Jaswant Zafar.

Gurvinder emphasizes that Ajeet's stories explore significant social and political themes relevant to Punjab's history. He mentions, “I had complete freedom to select any story or combination of stories. The thematic and structural connections were crucial in my decision-making.”

This film marks Naseeruddin Shah's debut in Punjabi cinema. Gurvinder felt that Shah was the perfect fit for the role, despite his non-Punjabi background. “I was initially unsure if he would accept, but he agreed without hesitation when I approached him,” Gurvinder recalls, noting that the dialogues were crafted to suit Shah's unique persona. “On set, I discovered he required minimal direction, almost none at all.”

Locarno is recognized as one of the world's leading film festivals, alongside Venice, Cannes, and Berlin. Gurvinder believes that the film's selection at Locarno reinforces his belief in the enduring significance of certain types of cinema in an increasingly market-driven world with diminishing attention spans.

In addition to competing for the Golden Leopard, 'Rehmat' has also been nominated for a special accolade, the 'Pardo for Change'. The film's world premiere is set for August 6 in Locarno.

Gurvinder Singh has previously directed films such as 'Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan', 'Chauthi Koot', and 'Adh Chanani Raat'. His works have been showcased at major film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, and Busan. He has received the National Award for Best Director and has won the Best Punjabi Film award twice. 'Rehmat' represents his fourth feature film in the Punjabi language.