Gurvinder Singh's Rehmat: The only Indian film to compete at the 79th Locarno Film Festival
National Award- winning filmmaker Gurvinder Singh's Rehmat, featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Suvinder Vicky of Satluj, will compete at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, held from August 5–15, 2026 which is one of the world's most prestigious film festivals.
National Award-winning filmmaker Gurvinder Singh has once again put Indian cinema on the global map. His upcoming Punjabi film Rehmat has been selected for the Concorso Internazionale (International Competition) at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, making it the only Indian feature film in the festival's main competition this year. The prestigious festival will be held in Locarno, Switzerland, from August 5 to 15, 2026, where Rehmat will compete for the Pardo d'Oro (Golden Leopard), the festival's highest honour.
Gurvinder Singh's journey from FTII to global recognitionGurvinder Singh is one of India's most respected filmmakers, known for making realistic Punjabi films that reflect the lives and struggles of ordinary people. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, he made his directorial debut with Anhe Ghore Da Daan, which won him the National Film Award for Best Direction.
Over the years, Singh has earned international recognition with films like Chauthi Koot (The Fourth Direction), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and Adh Chanani Raat (Crescent Night). His latest film, Rehmat, continues his journey of taking Punjabi cinema to global audiences.
Rehmat's cast -Naseeruddin Shah and Suvinder VickyRehmat features an impressive cast led by Naseeruddin Shah, who plays Rashid Ali, a man returning to his birthplace in Punjab decades after his family migrated during the 1947 Partition.
The film also stars Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vasisht, Navjot Randhawa, Diya Kamboj, Harwinder Aujla, and Jaswant Zafar, who makes his acting debut. Suvinder Vicky, who recently impressed audiences with his performance as SSP Surjit Singh Sugga in Satluj, adds further strength to the ensemble cast. His growing presence in Punjabi cinema has made him one of the industry's most sought-after actors.
What is Rehmat about?Set in present-day Punjab, Rehmat brings together three interconnected stories. One follows a woman who secretly shelters an injured stranger while his family struggles with grief and difficult decisions. Another revolves around an elderly man who arrives in a village claiming to be God. At the heart of the film is Rashid Ali's emotional journey back to his roots after spending most of his life in England.
Who is Ajeet Cour? The celebrated Punjabi writer behind RehmatRehmat is adapted from the short stories of Ajeet Cour, one of the most celebrated voices in Punjabi literature. Born in 1934, Cour has written more than 30 books, including short story collections, novels, and memoirs. Her writing is known for exploring women's lives, social inequality, and the lasting impact of the 1947 Partition.
Over the years, she has received several prestigious honours, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 2006, and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2024. Beyond her literary work, Cour has also contributed to the cultural world by founding the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature in New Delhi and the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature. With Rehmat, Gurvinder Singh brings her powerful and timeless stories to the big screen for a global audience.
More than just a festival selectionApart from competing for the Pardo d'Oro, which carries a cash prize of CHF 75,000 (over ₹88 lakh), Rehmat has also been shortlisted for the Pardo for Change Award, presented to films that encourage conversations on important social, cultural, ethical, and environmental issues.
Speaking about the film, Gurvinder Singh said cinema has the power to go beyond cultures and connect people through universal human experiences. With its strong story, acclaimed cast, and international recognition, Rehmat marks another milestone for Punjabi cinema and further strengthens Gurvinder Singh's reputation as one of India's finest filmmakers.