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JUN 8, 2026
Your support this past quarter has meant more than we can say. We’ve seen a wave of engagement from donors who understand what film can do — break down walls, kindle curiosity, and bring people together around stories that matter. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to our $100,000 goal and strengthens the platform we are building for filmmakers with something real to say.
We currently have more than twenty productions actively in development — and the breadth of those stories makes our mission feel more tangible than ever.
UK Premiere in June
Robes of Justice - Justice Harbans Singh missed the British Civil Service by two marks in 1933, then learned by mid-ocean telegram that he had topped the Bar exam — called to the Bar in absentia before his ship reached shore. The film follows his rise to become Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, tracing a life of resilience and quiet distinction across the corridors of Lincoln’s Inn and the courts of India.
New Films Added Since Last Update
Delhi Fateh: When Sikhs Conquered the Red Fort - In 1783, Sikh forces under Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia marched on Delhi and laid siege to the Red Fort, extracting a settlement that led to the establishment of Sikh gurudwaras in the capital and cemented a lasting Sikh presence there. Drawing on historical paintings, archival recreations, and interviews with scholars and religious leaders, the film reconstructs the campaign, the compromise, and the legacy that followed. It closes with the 2026 march from the Golden Temple to the Red Fort, drawing a direct line between that founding moment and living memory.
The Sound of a Shadow explores the shared scribal histories of Dogri and Punjabi — two languages once united by the Takri family of scripts — and what it means to speak a language fluently while remaining unable to read its historical forms. Set between Jammu Province and Punjab, the film traces how Punjabi found institutional stability through Gurmukhi while Dogri’s written tradition dispersed, leaving many Dogri speakers today who can read Punjabi but cannot read historical Dogri texts.
SADAKNAMA is a poetic road documentary following a single Punjabi Sikh truck driver on a long-haul journey across India, inspired by Baldev Singh’s seminal road narrative of the same name. Through observational filmmaking and the ambient textures of highway life — roadside dhabas, Punjabi folk songs, and the rhythms of the truck cabin — the film uncovers a subculture that keeps India moving while remaining largely unseen.
Through the Lens of Subhash Parihar portrays the art historian, photographer, and visual documentarian who spent decades mapping the built heritage of Punjab and north India, from his upbringing in Kot Kapura to internationally recognized scholarship on Indo-Islamic and Sikh architectural monuments. Following him into the field and through his extensive published work on the region’s historical sites, the film considers how one person’s sustained attention can preserve what institutions overlook.
Echoes of Panjab is a two-part documentary series and archival initiative devoted to three ancient storytelling traditions of Punjab — Ki`sē singing, nakalāṁ performance, and kavīśarī recitation — each a living archive of the region’s history and collective memory. Traveling through villages and towns, the filmmakers record practitioners in their own settings, capturing not just performances but the texture of a culture that carries its past in sound.
Yuba City: A Tale of One City - This documentary chronicles the inspiring journey of Punjabi pioneers who built Yuba City from railroad workers to farmers, creating a thriving Sikh-American community that exemplifies cultural integration while maintaining their heritage. Their story represents resilience, perseverance, and community spirit that continues to shape the region today. Yuba City stands as a powerful example of how a minority community can flourish while retaining its unique identity and making significant contributions to American society. Despite its importance as a model for multicultural success, this remarkable story remains largely unknown outside the Sikh community. Sikhlens is committed to producing this film to the highest technical standards for global distribution. With $150,000 already secured for this specific film, we need visionary donors to help close the remaining $100,000 funding gap to bring this untold chapter of American history to worldwide audiences.
Music as Meditation traces the remarkable life of Shivpreet Singh — California entrepreneur, philanthropist, and messenger of Oneness. Shot across Bay Area studios, live stages, and quiet personal spaces, the film follows his path from Kathmandu to the forefront of Indo-American music, charting his deep reverence for Indian classical ragas and his commitment to using sound as a force for peace and climate awareness through his DhunAnand Foundation.
Swarn Singh Kahlon chronicles the extraordinary life of an 87-year-old Sikh man who has set foot in 81 countries across the globe. The author of three acclaimed volumes documenting the Sikh diaspora — covering Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America — Mr. Kahlon has spent a lifetime bearing witness to Sikh communities far from their homeland. He now turns his attention inward with his forthcoming book on Sikhs living across India outside of Punjab.
Becoming Siri Kartar offers a deeply personal look at one Italian woman's spiritual awakening and her transformation into Siri Kartar Kaur Khalsa. Through devotion, discipline, and an unshakeable inner strength, her path into the teachings of Sikhi becomes a story of identity reborn.
Between Two Worlds follows Amandeep Kaur's courageous passage from Ludhiana to Italy — a life shaped by the quiet tension of belonging to two places at once, and the strength it takes to honor where you come from while embracing where you are.
Brothers in Turban - The Sikh Soldiers in Italy rescues a lost chapter of World War II from the shadows of history. Through faded photographs, letters written far from home, archival footage, and intimate narration, the film honors the tens of thousands of Sikh soldiers who fought and fell on Italian soil. It is a testament to courage, identity, and the enduring need to remember.
Thread of Grace is a quiet and luminous portrait of Siri Ram Kaur, an Italian woman whose spiritual life takes shape through her hands — in prayer, in art, in the careful threading of each mala bead. Her journey into Sikhi is one of devotion expressed not just in words, but in everything she creates.
Hidden Gems delves into the unique intersection of gemstones and culture in the deserted parts of America. Veteran miner Niranjan Singh Khalsa leads this journey into the lives of gemstone miners. The film's post-production has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, but we anticipate its release in 2025.
Andretta Artists Village is a poetic exploration of Andretta, a small but extraordinary artist village in Himachal Pradesh, India. Once the dream of Irish theater artist Norah Richards in the early 20th century, the village has grown into a quiet cradle of creativity, housing potters, painters, writers, and theater practitioners from around the world. The film will travel through time and space—moving from Norah’s theatrical beginnings to major punjabi artists like Sobha Singh residing here, to the present-day studio of renowned potter Mansimran ‘Mini’ Singh—capturing the evolution and essence of a village where art is not just created but lived.
2025 delivered a strong slate of films that gave voice to a new generation of Sikh storytelling. Each production reflected the sustained effort of our filmmakers, offering distinct viewpoints on themes of identity, faith, and belonging.
The films below were among those that premiered November 21st–23rd at our annual Sikhlens Arts and Film Festival in Southern California. Several titles also screened at the Sikhlens Arts and Film Festival at other locations in 2025.
Mitti is a heartwarming story about Jasleen and her family as they journey back to their ancestral village in Pakistan. Through old memories, emotional reunions, and heartfelt conversations, the film captures their experience of reconnecting with their roots and the land their forefathers once called home.
Water Warriors is about water pollution in rivers of Punjab and how it’s affecting the entire population of the state. There’s a group of young people who are working to clean the rivers. They have named themselves ‘water warriors’. This film talks about their work and the actual issue.
Everyday Activists tells the inspiring story of Manpreet Kalra and Angad Singh, an activist couple navigating their careers and personal passions while impacting the world.
Crafting Legacy explores the remarkable journey of Bal Choda, whose story transcends his professional success at Aston Martin. The film delves deep into Choda's formative years in Southall as the youngest of five siblings, revealing how pivotal childhood experiences shaped his character and drive. From the spiritual foundations laid by his grandfather and father to his rise in the automotive world, the documentary weaves together personal and professional threads illuminated through testimonials from family members—including his mother-in-law's powerful partition story. Bal Choda captures both his professional achievements and his commitment to mentorship and charity work, painting a portrait of a man whose legacy extends far beyond Aston Martin.
Lifting Together is an intimate short documentary that follows the journey of national record-holding weightlifter Harmanpreet Kaur and her husband-coach Sukhwinderpal Singh Padda, a professor and former athlete. Set in Punjab, India, the film explores their shared dedication to the sport, the gender and societal challenges they face, and the unique strength of their partnership—both on and off the lifting platform.
The films we steward are more than documentation — they are connective tissue between generations, between communities, between the inside of one experience and the imagination of another. The filmmakers we support bring authenticity and ambition in equal measure, creating work that resonates within the Sikh world and reaches far beyond it.
Mark your calendars: The Sikhlens Arts and Film Festival returns to Southern California November 20–22, 2026. Beyond the main event, our international network of partner festivals will bring these films to audiences in Chandigarh, Chicago, the United Kingdom, Vancouver, Toronto, and Seattle. That expanding footprint is a direct reflection of what your generosity makes possible.
As these projects continue to develop, we will bring you along at every milestone. Choosing to invest in Destination S means more than financial support — it means joining a community of people committed to preserving heritage, challenging assumptions, and telling stories that cross boundaries. These films exist because of you, and we look forward to sharing each one.
Fundraising campaigns for Arts & Culture
Zero platform fees and matching funds increase your impact.
Updates from Sikhlens Destination S Fund 2025–2026’s efforts, posted on a regular basis.
Every cause is reviewed before it can receive a dollar.
Join over 27,000 Sikhs to rise higher than we could alone.
Fundraising campaigns for Arts & Culture
A Day In Punjab - Seattle
Sevadar
A Book on Life & Legacy of Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi
Nad Music Institute
ARTivism: Inspiring Activism Through the Arts
ICAAD
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Sikhlens Community Voices 2024-2025
Sikhlens
Noor Singh Niara - The Movie
Khalsa Media Services
Sikhlens Animations 2025–2026: Bringing Sikh Stories to Life Through AI
Sikhlens
Sikhlens Publications: Bringing Sikh Stories to the Mainstream 2025-2026
Sikhlens
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