Surjeet Jasal
Around 60 Punjabi films were released this year, but only 5-7 films were successful, whereas last year there was a period of good films with creative thinking. This year, the lack of such films continued. The beginning of 2024 remained disappointing for Punjabi cinema. Writer-director Rana Ranbir’s film ‘Mansuba’ remained beyond the understanding of the audience due to its complex subject matter. New actors Kirandeep and Prabh Grewal’s film ‘Jatta Doli Na’ could not be liked by the audience due to lack of good grip on the subject.
Singer Yuvraj Hans could not do much on the Punjabi screen with the film ‘Munda Rockstar’, while Harish Varma’s ‘Drama Ale’, despite being a good film, did not leave much of an impact. In the same month, Sardar Sohi and Babbal Roy’s film ‘Lambadan Da Lana’ became a favorite of the audience as it was a comedy with ghosts. Films like ‘Jatt Ko Chudel Takkri’, ‘Jeeunde Raho Bhootji’, ‘Boo Main Dargi’ and ‘Neen Main Sass Kuttani-2’ became a staple of cinema after seeing themes with ghosts become successful. Among them, the movie ‘Jatt Ko Chudel Takkri’ written by Amberdeep and directed by Vikas Vashisht entertained the audience. Actors like Gippy Grewal, Sargun Mehta, Rupi Gill etc played important roles in this film. The film ‘Neen Mein Sass Kuttani-2’ did not live up to the audience’s liking like the popular first film, while the film ‘Boo Mein Dargi’ was a disappointment to the audience.
Director Amar Hundal, who makes action and thriller films, made his identity more intimate with the films ‘Warning-2’, ‘Phurtila’ and ‘Bibi Rajini’. ‘Warning-2’, the sequel to the 2021 hit film ‘Warning’, has worked hard to make it even better and more interesting. The climax of the film, featuring Bollywood-Hollywood level action, impressed the audience. The acting of actors like Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Gippy Grewal, Hobby Dhaliwal, Sardar Sohi and Jasmin Bhasin was very impressive. Actor-turned-producer Jagjit Sandhu took a long leap with the film ‘Oy Bhole Oy’. Satirizing social issues and providing thought provoking humor, the film managed to gather crowds at the ticket window. Another film of Jagjit Sandhu ‘Chordil’ was also released in the same year.
Singer-turned-actor Hardeep Grewal’s third film ‘Je Paisa Bolda Hota’ was also released this year with the film ‘Tunka-Tunka’. Despite being a good comedy and suspenseful film, it did not become a favorite of the audience. Simmi Chahal and Imran Abbas’ film ‘Jee Ve Sohnia Ji’ was an interesting film in terms of subject. Gurnam Bhullar’s film ‘Khidari’ proved to be a good subject film. Compared to earlier films, Gurnam Bhullar could not make much progress with this film. Karamjit Anmol and Simar Khaira’s comedy film ‘Vekhi Ja Chhedi Na’ was not teased by any audience.
After the unprecedented success of ‘Iko-Mike’ and ‘Kali Jota’, Satinder Sartaj’s film ‘Shair’ set new milestones this year. This film, full of poetry, received a lot of love from the audience. Like ‘Iko-Mike’, Satinder Sartaj with the film ‘Shayer’ managed to connect the audience with literature and talk about true love. Along with the acting in this film, the Shayari-numa songs of the film also became the favorite of the audience.
Like last year’s film ‘Mastane’, which presented Sikh history, the film ‘Bibi Rajini’, based on a historical saga, was also in discussion. Released on 26 June 1972, producer Kanwar Mahendra Singh Bedi’s film ‘Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam’ was also the story of Bibi Rajini. Like the successful film of the 70s, the contemporary film ‘Bibi Rajini’ reconnected the audience with Sikh history. Seeing the good performance of Bibi Rajini, many other films of religious themes were also released, which were seen teaching to overcome division by doing sincere work in association with Gurbani. After Ram Maheshwari’s 1969 National Award winning film ‘Nanak Naam Jahaj Hai’, another film titled ‘Nanak Naam Jahaj Hai’ was released this year by new director Kalyani Singh. Released in 1982. Uchcha Dar Baba Nanak Da directed by Pappu has been a super duper hit of its time. Writer-director Taranpal Singh Jagpal’s film was released under the same title, but this film did not get a good response. Ardaas-Sarbat De Bhale Di, the third installment of the superduper hit movie Ardaas released in 2016, turned out to be a good movie. Like the first two films, this film also received good love from the audience, although the sequel films were more talked about this year, but the success of the first films came in the hands of some. In this series, films such as ‘Blackiya-2’, ‘Rupinder Gandhi 3’, ‘Prahawan 2’, ‘Pher Maaraman Gula Hai’, ‘Neen Mein Sass Kuttani 2’, ‘Surrender’, ‘Tabahi Reloaded’ etc. were released. done
The film ‘Rode College’ released this year by Happy Rode, a young man with good and constructive thinking, was quite popular. The discussion of this film, which performed well in terms of subject and direction, surprised everyone. Amarinder Gill came up with two films this year, in the first of which he played the role of a driver in Mitran Da Chalya Truck Neen. Directed by Rakesh Dhawan, Sunanda Sharma, Hardeep Gill and Bollywood actress Sayani Gupta impressed the audience with their stellar performances. The second film ‘Daru Na Pinda Howe’ turned out to be a good film presenting the story of family complications caused by the bad symptoms of alcoholics. Diljit Dusanjh’s film ‘Jatt and Juliet 3’ also raised flags of success.
Gippy Grewal’s son Shinda Grewal came into limelight with the film ‘Shinda Shinda No Papa’. It was a good film about the difference between Punjab and outside culture and proper family upbringing. A satire on village school education system, Kasadi Preet Harpal’s film ‘Pind Ala Skool’ was based on a serious subject. Babbu Maan’s film ‘Sucha Soorma’ was also released in the same year. Based on an old folk tale, this film is directed by Amitoz Mann with great precision. The film was appreciated, but not much discussed.
Shukrana, a social theme film with family complications, was different from the usual films, in which the respectful and dignified relationship between brother-in-law and brother-in-law was shown in a forced second marriage. Some of the scenes of this film, presented with reference to true stories of Punjab, seemed to be filled with laughter. Despite being a good film, it did not stay in theaters for long. Writer-director Nav Bajwa’s film ‘Redua Returns’ disappointed the audience badly.
Amy Virk has been active in Bollywood this year and was seen fighting Ishq Peche for Punjabi cinema with only one film ‘Kudi Haryana Val Di’. The audience liked this romantic film in the guise of Bhalwani. In it, Amy Virk appeared for the first time. Guru Randhawa also made his acting debut with the film ‘Shahkot’. The film full of indifference, ‘Phode Ghar Begane’ did not get a good response from the audience. Arya Babbar’s ‘Hey Siri Ve Siri’ and ‘Ghora Lai Lakhdi Zameen Jat Di’, set in Pravasi Mulak, entertained the audience well. At the end of the year in December two major films ‘Vada Ghar’ and ‘Punjab Files’ were released. While ‘Vada Ghar’ tells the importance of a joint big-house-family, ‘Punjab Files’ is a period drama story that tells the story of the dark period of Punjab.
Apart from the films released in cinemas, many new films and web series were also released on the OTT platform Chaupal this time. Writer-director Gurpreet Singh Bhaleri’s web series ‘Sarpanchi’, released this year on Chaupal, won a lot of love from the audience. It shows how today’s voter has become aware. Writer Avraj Gill and director Aneet Sekhon’s web series ‘Takht’ is an interesting story depicting the reality of two number men in the drug business. Apart from this, the web series ‘Palastar’, ‘Jakka PCF’ were also in discussion. Singer Ravinder Grewal’s film ‘Blue Van’ was also much discussed.
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