Jammu, October 21, 2025: To mark the 233rd birth anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Natrang celebrated the occasion with the screening of Padma Shri Balwant Thakur’s acclaimed Hindi film ‘Gulab Gatha’. The film was shown twice at the Natrang Studio Theatre for invited audiences. Conceptualized, written, and directed by Balwant Thakur, the making and showcasing of this magnificent film was supported by the Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust, inspired Balwant Thakur to write, produce, and direct the first-ever film on the life and legacy of the great Dogra ruler who created one of the largest princely states in India’s history.
Addressing the august gathering, Balwant Thakur shared that it was unfortunate that “Jammu and Kashmir remains the only region in the Indian Union where local history and culture are not taught to students for reasons best known to the authorities.” He emphasized that the film was made to “educate younger generations about their rich heritage and sensitize them to the making of this state.” With the support of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust, Natrang aims to take this film to every corner of the region to spread awareness about the true history of Jammu and Kashmir and life and contribution of Maharaja Gulab Singh.
Expressing heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Karan Singh, Thakur said that Dr. Singh not only supported the making of this historic cinematic document but also appreciated it immensely for its authenticity and cultural significance.
‘Gulab Gatha’ narrates the inspiring journey of a soldier who rose through courage, sacrifice, and strategic brilliance to become a legendary ruler. The film portrays Maharaja Gulab Singh’s steadfast loyalty to the Lahore Durbar, his indomitable spirit, and his vision in laying the foundation of a vast and unified Dogra kingdom.
Like Napoleon and Alexander, who are revered for their conquests and leadership, Gulab Singh too exemplified valor, wisdom, and statesmanship. Though he had no royal lineage, his extraordinary bravery and diplomatic acumen established him as a monarch of remarkable strength and foresight.
The lead role of Maharaja Gulab Singh is played by Sunil Kumar Palwal, an FTII alumnus and Yuva Bismillah Khan Awardee, known for his performances in Jolly LLB 2, Mughal-e-Azam, Yeh Dil Ramta Yogi, Chera – The Unknown Mask, Satin Sin B’s, MTV Rush, Shapptah, Rakshak, and Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke, among others.
He is joined by a strong ensemble cast of prominent stage and television actors from Jammu, including Arvind Anand, Madan Rangeela, Janak Khajuria, Anil Tickoo, Neeraj Kant, Vijay Bhat, Pankaj Sharma, Sudhir Jamwal, Sanjeev Gupta, Suresh Kumar, Subash Jamwal, Sumeet Sharma, Gaurav Jamwal, Rahul Sharma, Peshin Kanwal, Aftab Singh Chauhan, Meera Tapasvi, Aarushi Thakur Rana, Gauri Thakur, Mohd. Yaseen, Rahul Singh, Goutam Sharma, Ashish Parihar, Brijesh Avtar Sharma, Sanket Bhagat, Sushant Singh Charak, Aviral Kapoor, Shivam Singh, Kuldeep Angral, Chirag Anand, Shivam Sharma, and Mohsin Malik.
The film’s technical crew came from Mumbai, with Maloop Singh, Neeraj Badyal, Mohd. Yaseen, and Gaurav Jamwal coordinating the production.
Through ‘Gulab Gatha’, Natrang not only pays tribute to the visionary founder of the Dogra dynasty but also takes a significant step toward reviving interest in Jammu and Kashmir’s proud historical and cultural legacy.