Melbourne, Australia (Asian independent) The premier screening of the short Punjabi film ‘Ik Kamba Jiha Hauka’ (A Long Sigh), written by Canada-based Punjabi author Ravinder Singh Sodhi, took place at the Church of Scientology in Melbourne on Sunday. The film, with a runtime of 45 minutes, delves into the unpredictability of human life, illustrating how no one can foresee the future.
The story follows Satpal and his wife, Jassi, who migrate from India to Australia for a better life. Satpal takes on various odd jobs to adapt to their new environment. After much perseverance, he successfully cleared his CPA exams and became a Chartered Accountant, eventually starting his accountancy firm. Meanwhile, Jassi completes her nursing studies and also becomes a qualified nurse. The couple shares a happy and contented life with their only daughter, Preeti.
A turning point occurs when Preeti expresses her desire to move to Sydney for higher education. Although the parents are initially hesitant, 
they ultimately agree to support her decision. Shortly after Preeti’s departure, Jassi is diagnosed with blood cancer. During her treatment, she begins to feel that her time is running out and encourages her husband to remarry after her death. Following Jassi’s passing, Satpal becomes deeply lonely and eventually succumbs to his grief.
The premiere was attended by approximately 200 guests. As the film progressed, the audience experienced intense silence, occasionally interrupted by sobs from both women and men.
Jaswinder Kaur Chawla delivered a remarkable performance as Jassi, with her facial expressions and voice modulation reflecting the genuine experiences of a patient. Satinder Singh Chawla, a well-known filmmaker and actor in short films, portrayed Satpal convincingly. His body language was precise, and as the director, he successfully drew equally strong performances from the rest of the cast.
Shana Bhangu made a strong impact on screen, while supporting actors such as Dr. Bhahanpreet, Punert, Jatin, Buta Singh, and others left a lasting impression on the audience.
The film’s success is attributed not only to the talented actors but also to a strong technical team that includes director and director of photography Mandeep Dhindsa, scriptwriters Satinder Chawla and Mandeep Dhindsa, editor Paras Nagpal, art director Jaswinder Chawla, lyricist Pavi, and music composers Gur Harmeet and Vikas Dhall. Satinder Chawla produced the film, while story writer Ravinder Singh Sodhi congratulated the entire team for their efforts.
