Punjabi film ''Waris Shah''goes to oscars as an American entry

Panaji, Nov 27 (UNI) Punjabi film ''Waris Shah - Ishq Daa Waaris'' directed by late Manoj Punj is the US entry in the foreign film category to the Oscars this year.

Gurdas Mann who has acted in the film informed this to mediapersons here today. Mann along with co-star Juhi Chawla was here for the screening of the film as a homage to Punj who died recently.

Punj was a visionary filmmaker who was passionate about his work, said Juhi. ''I first worked with him in Des Hoya Pardes, a Punjabi film opposite Gurdas Mann. Punj was a very young director, but capable of handling emotional scenes.'' ''Waris Shah'' screened at the Berlin Film Festival is a period film set in early 18th century. After Aurangzeb's death, various rulers who succeeded him have a fixed mindset about music and they try to suppress it with their own methods.

Musicians get persecuted as the rulers believe that music takes a man away from god. However, Sufi saints continue with their songs as for them music brings them closer to god.

Waris Shah is a disciple of Baba Makhdoom, who popularised music.

The Baba was killed by a Muslim ruler because of his passion for music. To fulfill the last wish of his Guru, Waris Shah goes to a village to write the epic love story of ''Heer Ranjha'', which is now his sole mission in life.

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