Salman Khan will produce an Indo-Canadian film Lions Of The Sea, a re-telling of the infamous 1914 maritime incident, when the Japanese ship the Komagata Maru sailed with more than 349 Sikh passengers to Canada from Hong Kong, but was denied entry. The film attempts to reconstruct Indo-Western history and highlight the history of racist, exclusionary laws against migrants of colour in the West.
Irrfan Khan plays the Sikh lawyer Gurdit Singh, who fought for those passengers’ right to enter the country.
Toronto-based Indian tycoon Dr. Ajay Virmani told Deccan Chronicle, “It’s an honour to partner with Salman and SKF once again to ensure this historic story which has challenged many racial laws in the western world is finally being told. We were pleased and humbled that the honourable prime minister Justin Trudeau earlier this year recognised and apologised in the House of Commons for the unjust treatment committed against these migrants. We are excited to announce this production will commence in 2017 as we celebrate Canada, its diversity as well as its 150th anniversary.”
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Earlier in May this year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had issued a formal apology for what is considered a “dark chapter” in Canada’s history. Trudeau said Canada took responsibility for “the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely, for that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed”.
This film will be co-produced by Vinay Virmani and Pauline Dhillon.
Salman Khan is currently shooting for Tubelight, a remake of the Chan-woo Park classic Oldboy (2003), and Tiger Zinda Hai, a sequel to Ek Tha Tiger.