Sapta Sindhu Forum Celebrates Cultural Legacy with Cine Awards and Conclave 2025, honours Punjabi cinema stalwarts

Chandigarh, November 22, 2025: The Sapta Sindhu Forum organised the Sapta Sindhu Solidarity Cine Awards and Conclave 2025, bringing together noted personalities from cinema, industry and public life to celebrate the cultural and artistic legacy of Punjab. The event was attended by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as Chief Guests. Pradeep Joshi delivered the keynote address, focusing on cultural continuity and the role of creative expression in preserving civilisational identity.
Guests of Honour included Rajya Sabha MP and Trident Group Chairman Emeritus Padma Shri Rajinder Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Subash Barala, Homeland Group CEO Umang Jindal and Tynor Orthotics Strategic Director Abhaynoor Singh. The conclave was led by Dr. Varinder Garg, Founder of the Sapta Sindhu Forum, and co-organised in association with Nivedita Trust and PFTAA.
The organisers said the conclave was envisioned as a tribute to the 12,000-year-old civilisational heritage of the Sapta Sindhu region, historically known as the land of seven rivers. They added that Punjabi cinema carries forward a long-standing artistic tradition rooted in storytelling, folklore, music and community memory.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Sapta Sindhu logo and the launch of the Forum’s official YouTube channel, aimed at expanding cultural outreach. A curated documentary tracing nearly a century of Punjabi cinema was screened, offering glimpses into landmark films, iconic artists and key moments in the industry’s evolution.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Padma Shri Nirmal Rishi, Mohammad Sadiq and Padma Shri Dr. Jaspinder Narula, acknowledging their longstanding contribution to Punjabi arts. Several well-known artists, including Binnu Dhillon, Jasbir Jassi, Tania, Guggu Gill, Ninja, Sardar Sohi, Amar Noorie, Dev Kharoud and Smeep Kang, were also felicitated. The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by Master Saleem, drawing overwhelming appreciation from the audience.
The organisers described the conclave as an effort to strengthen cultural collaboration and reaffirm Punjabi identity through cinema and artistic expression. They said the Forum intends to continue building institutional support for research, creative content and global representation of Punjabi culture.