Punjwood
Encyclopedia
Punjabi cinema is the Punjabi language
film industry in the states of Punjab
in India
and Pakistan
. This article deals with Punjabi cinema in India.
The first Punjabi film was released in Lahore
, provincial capital of the Pakistani Punjab
. The Lahore film industry is known as Lollywood
, a portmanteau of the words Lahore and Hollywood, similarly, Punjabi cinema has been called Pollywood by western audiences.
As of 2009, the Punjabi film industry has produced between 900 and 1,000 films. The average number of releases per year in the 1970s was nine; in the 1980s, eight; and in the 1990s, six. In 1995, the number of films released was 11; it plummeted to seven in 1996 and touched a low of five in 1997. Since the 2000s Punjabi cinema has seen a revival with more releases every year with bigger budgets, home grown stars, and Bollywood actors of Punjabi descent taking part.
was introduced as an actress and singer in this film. Sheila was made in Calcutta and released in Lahore
. It ran very successfully and was a hit across the province. Due to the success of this film more producers started making Punjabi films. K.D. Mehra made his second film, Heer Sial (1938), with the assistance of M.M. Billoo Mehra. This film had Noor Jehan and new artists Balo and M. Ismail. This film was commercially successful.
Due to the vast Punjabi community in Lahore and Punjab, the area soon became a significant Punjabi-language film market. Studios opened up and many artists, producers, directors, and technicians from Bombay and Calcutta shifted to Lahore. Prominent names were Shanta Apte, Motilal
, Chandra Mohan
, Hiralal, Noor Jehan, Mumtaz Shanti
, Wali, Syed Attahullah Shah Hashmi, Krishna Kumar, and Shanker Hussain. Baldev Raj Chopra
, later known as a director, got started in the movie industry in Lahore, where he ran a film magazine called the Cine Herald. Ramanand Sagar
, also later a director, was associated with the Evening News. Syed Attahullah Shah Hashmi worked for the film newspaper Adakar.
into two parts, India and Pakistan
. The Punjab region
was split between the two nations. West Punjab
became part of Pakistan and East Punjab
became part of India. This affected Punjabi cinema because most Muslim
artists and directors moved to Pakistan, and worked in Lollywood, while Sikhs and Hindus moved to Bombay.
, Do Lachhian and Bhangra with some success but were not able to revive Punjabi cinema. Songs from the films would run for months and years on the radio resulting in a long term audience for the films.
Post-partition, the trend of comedies continued. One of the hit comedies was Mulkh Raj Bhakhri's Bhangra (1958), starring Sundar and Nishi. It was remade by director Mohan Bhakhri as Jatti in 1980 with Mehar Mittal and Aparna Chowdhry, and it was again a commercial success. The music from the film was by Hansraj Behl
with lyrics by Verma Malik
. Songs sung by Shamshad and Rafi like "Batti balkay banere utte rakhdi han, rah bhul na jave chann mera" and "Chitte dand hasnon nayion rehnde" were widespread hits. Johnny Walker (1957) was a hit and was later remade under the same title, featuring Mehar Mittal in the lead role and Amitabh Bachchan
as a guest star.
, Nishi, Wasti, and Mirza Musharraf, with music by Hansraj Behl
. This was the only Punjabi film starring Balraj Sahni. It was a major hit and earned a National Film Award. Satluj de Kande was broadcast three times on the public TV channel Doordarshan
in India.
In 1969 the religious film Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai starring Prithviraj Kapoor
, I. S. Johar
, Vimmi, Som Dutt, Nishi, Suresh, and David Abraham was released. The film was the first really major successful Punjabi film in post-independent India with a major cultural impact on Punjabi Sikhs at home and abroad and is credited with the revival of the Punjabi film industry in India. People stood in kilometre long lines to buy a ticket for the film.
, Asha Parekh
and Ravindra Kapoor) and Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (Dara Singh
, Balraj Sahni
, Ram Mohan and Asha Sachdev) were released in 1970. 1971 saw no major releases. In 1972, Dara Singh
starred with Prithviraj Kapoor
in Mele Mitran De. Man Jeete Jag Jeet, a religious film starring Sunil Dutt
, Radha Saluja
and Ranjeet
, was a major release of 1973. In 1974, Do Sher
(Dharmendra
and Rajendra Kumar
), Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (Dara Singh
and Feroz Khan
), Sacha Mera Roop Hai (Manmohan Krishan) and Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam
(Shaminder Singh and Radha Saluja) were released. The most successful was Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam, due to the wide appeal of its religious historical setting and appearances by Bollywood superstars including Sunil Dutt
, Rajendra Kumar
, Dharmendra
, Johnny Walker
, and Dara Singh
.
Teri Meri Ek Jindri (1975) starred Dharmendra
and introduced his cousin Veerendra
. Many films were released in 1976: Daaj Giddha
, Main Papi Tum Bakhshanhaar, Papi Tarey Anek, Santo Banto
, Sardar-E-Azam, Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun, Taakra, and Yamla Jatt. Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun was the biggest hit and starred Dara Singh. The film ran into conflict with the Sikh political parties as the film had Fauj-i-Khas
soldiers wearing fake beards. The year 1977 was not a major one for the Punjabi film industry. Jai Mata Di, Saal Solvan Chadya, Sat Sri Akal, and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha were released, amongst others. Saal Solvan Chadya was a highlight because of the cameo appearance by Rekha. Sat Sri Akal was another hit film. It starred Sunil Dutt
, Shatrughan Sinha
, and Premnath
. In 1978 Udeekan, Dhyani Bhagat, Jai Mata Sheranwali, and Jindri Yar Di were released. The drama Udeekan was a hit. Walayati Babu, the first ever remake in Punjabi cinema, was released in 1978. The film was remade from the Punjabi film of the same name by Johnny Walker, and featured a special appearance by Amitabh Bachchan. 1979 was a big year: Guru Manio Granth, Jatt Punjabi, Kunwara Mama, Sukhi Pariwar, and Til Til Dalekha were released. The religious film Guru Manio Granth was an instant hit. Jatt Punjabi had a big cast and a special appearance by Manoj Kumar
. Til Til Da Lekha won the Punjab State Government award for best story writer and second best feature film of 1979. The first mystery film was released, Vangaar (The Challenge); it failed to become a hit.
, Rama Vij, Amrish Puri
, Om Puri
, and Kulbhusun Kharbanda. Fauji Chacha had veteran Bollywood actor Sanjeev Kumar in the lead. A remake of Mulkh Raj Bhakhri's 1958 film Bhangra came out in 1980 from director Mohan Bhakhri. The film was titled Jatti, and starred Sundar, Nishi, Mehar Mittal, and Aparna Chowdhry. As with the original, the remake was a tremendous success.
1981 had only one hit: Balbiro Bhabhi. This film had Veerendra
in the lead role. Two major releases of 1985 were Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da and Sarpanch. The former was a religious film that established Gurdas Mann as a star. Sarpanch starred Veerendra. In 1983, many movies were released, with Putt Jattan De
the biggest commercially. Veerendra had another hit in 1984 with the film Yaari Jatt Di. This film was the first Punjabi film to have more than half its footage shot in the United Kingdom. Mamla Garbar Hai was a hit for actor Gurdas Mann. The film's songs were especially loved.
Two hit films of 1985 were Mohammad Sadiq's Guddo and Veerendra's Vairi. Long Da Lishkara was the big hit of 1986, starring Raj Babbar
, Gurdas Mann, Om Puri
, and Nina Deol. In 1987 Veerendra starred in Patola and Jor Jatt Da. Punjab was shaken with the assassination of Veerendra by gunshot during the filming of Jatt Tey Zameen. The death opened the door for supporting actors including Gugu Gill
and Yograj Singh
to take leading roles.
1988 had no major film releases. In 1989 came the critically acclaimed Marhi Da Diva. The film starred Raj Babbar
, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljeet Singh, Parikshit Sahni, and Deepti Naval
.
, Yograj Singh
, Gurdas Mann, Dharmendra
, Raj Babbar
and Priti Sapru
. The film was directed by Preeti Sapru herself, and did well at the box office. A second important release was Dushmani Di Agg the last film of Veerendra. It also starred Gurdas Mann and Priti Sapru, and was successful at the box office. In 1991 the major film Anakh Jattan Di starred Diljit Kaur and Gugu Gill. It was the first movie where the people really accepted ex-villain Gugu Gill as a hero. The film was followed by films like Jor Jatt Da, which managed to recover its cost. Badla Jatti Da was the major success of the year. It starred Gugu Gill, Yograj Singh in a villain role, and Aman Noorie. Udeekan Saun Diyan garnered critical acclaim, but was not a commercial success. Sounh Menoo Punjab Di, starring Satish Kaul, Rama Vij, Mehar Mittal, and Pal Randhawa was also one of releases of 1991. The film was directed by Sukhdev Ahluwalia, one of the most successful directors of Punjwood, and had music by Surinder Kohli.
Vaisakhi starring Deep Dhillon and Sunita Dheer, was released in 1991 to critical acclaim, but did not succeed commercially. Jatt Jeona Morh was a major hit that year, and made Gugu Gill a superstar. Also released was Yograj Singh
's Jagga Daku
, which did moderately well. Dil Da Mamla, starring Guggu Gill and Amar Noori, did poorly at the box office.
1993 had films like Jatt Sucha Singh Soorma (with Yograj Singh and Neena Sidhu), Mirza Sahiban (starring Gugu Gill), Lalkara Jatt Da, and Saali Adhi Gharwali. These films managed to do adequately at the box office, but were not major successes. Preeti Sapru's Mehndi Shagnan Di, starring Malkit Singh, Hansraj Hans, Preeti Sapru, and Yograj Singh, lost money. Kudi Canada Di starring Yograj Singh also did poorly.
Kachehri (1994) starred Gurdas Mann, Yograj Singh, and others. The film was praised by critics, was a commercial success, and won a national award. A second release was Tabahi, starring newcomer Vishal Singh
; it was the blockbuster hit of the year. Guggu Gill's Vairi did quite well at the box office, but Jigra Jatt Da, with Yograj Singh as the villain, did poorly at the box office.
Kimi Verma starred in Naseebo and Qahar in 1995 to critical acclaim, but not commercial success. Naseebo managed managed to recover its costs. Pratigya, starring Gugu Gill, Gurdas Maan, Preeti Sapru, and Dara Singh did well at the box office. Zaildaar (Yograj Singh), Nain Preeto De (Yograj Singh), and Sir Dhad Di Baazi did well. Gurdas Mann's Baghawat did not. Jakhmi Jagirdar and Mera Punjab amongst others also did poorly that year.
Punjabi cinema began to decline in 1996. Only the film Sukha (starring Vishal Singh) did well at the box office. Deson Pardeson, Dhee Jatt Di (Upasana Singh, Gurkirtan, and Shivinder Mahal), Vichoda (Yograj Singh), Gawahi Jatt Di, and Jorawar all did poorly at the box office. Dara Singh's Vindoo and Farha's Rabb Diyan Rakhan also fared poorly.
Films of 1997 (Mela, Truck Driver, Sardari, Preetan De Pehredaar, and Pachtaawa) all failed to make a profit. Even Gugu Gill's films were not successful. Train to Pakistan was filmed in a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, and was later dubbed into Punjabi for film festivals.
In 1998 Gugu Gill's Purja Purja Kat Mare, Dara Singh, Ravinder Maan, and Vishal's Laali, and Kalbhooshan Kharbanda and Tanuja's Dildaara did not make money. Even big budget films like Guru Gobind Singh did poorly. The critically acclaimed Main Maa Punjab Dee won a National award, but it was not a big hit initially. Later this film was shown repeatedly on national television. The year ended on a positive note as Jaspal Bhatti
's Mahaul Theek Hai became an instant hit of Punjabi cinema. It was the first big hit since Jatt Jeona Morh (1991) and Badla Jatti Da (1992).
Punjabi films were more successful in 1999. Mahaul Theek Hai, Gurdas Maan, and Divya Dutta
's Shaheed e Mohabbat was a critical and commercial success. Muqqadar, Tera Mera Pyar, Nadiyon Vichde Neer, Door Nahin Nankana, and Ishq Nachave Gali Gali (Randeep Virender, Manjeet Kullar, Deepak Saraf, Neeru Singh, Surinder Sharma) all did poorly at the box office. Rajniti, which was also made in Hindi, failed to make money. Raj Babbar
's Shaheed Udham Singh did well towards the end of the year. There were only two major hits that year, Shaheed e Mohabbat and Shaheed Udham Singh.
, Upasana Singh
, Paramveer, and Deepshikha, which fared poorly in Punjab, but did very well overseas. Sikandra and Jagira were released in 2001. Avinash Wadhawan and Ayesha Jhulka
starred in Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas , which was released to the overseas market but not in Punjab.
In 2002 Jee Ayan Nu was released, featuring singer turned actor Harbhajan Mann
and directed by Manmohan Singh. The movie was made on a big budget for Punjwood - 90 lakh
s, as compared to the more typical 20-50 lakhs. Badla came out in 2003. Asa Nu Maan Watna Da was released in 2004, again with actor Harbhajan Mann and director Manmohan Singh.
Jija Ji, Des Hoyaa Pardes, Main Tu Assi Tussi, Yaaran Naal Baharan, and Nalaik were released in 2005. Dil Apna Punjabi (again pairing Harbhajan and Manmohan), Ek Jind Ek Jaan, Mannat directed and written by Gurbir Singh Grewal Having Jimmy Sheirgill and Introducing Kulraj Randhawa and Waris Shah came out in 2006. Kambdi Kalai a Punjabi diaspora movie based out of the United States, came out in 2006. Rustam-e-Hind and Mitti Wajan Mardi (Harbhajan and Manmohan) were released in 2007.
A significant number of movies were produced in 2008: Yaariyan, Mera Pind, Lakh pardesi hoye, Heaven on earth, and Sat sri akal. In 2009, Jag Jeodeye Deh Mele became a hit, and Tera Mera Ki Ristha with Jimmy Shergill
was a hit. But the biggest earner of all the punjabi films was Manmohan Singh's Munde Uk De with Jimmy Shergill and Gurpreet Ghugghi.
Munde Uk De broke the record of Dil Apna Punjabi Movie which was also directed by Manmohan Singh and became the biggest earner of all the Punjabi movies.
Mehndi Wale Hath with new star cast Goldie Somal, Gavie Chahal, Prableen etc. Was a hit film in east punjab teritory realesed in 2006. Written &Directed by Harinder Gill.
Jawani Zindabad featuring Raj Barar the famous punjabi singer, Pooja Kanwal, Gugu Gill, Gurkirtan etc. Written & directed by Harinder Gill released in March 2010.Its a big hit in Canada.
Channa Sachi Muchi starring Miss Puja & Goldie Somal writer & directer Harinder Gill realesed in Aug.2010.
, starring Jimmy Shergill
later broke all records and grossed 32.50 crore nett and became the highest grossing Punjabi film ever. Sukhmani-hope for life, starring Gurdas Maan, Juhi chawla & divya Dutta
In the year ending Chak Jawana were released, directed by SIMERJIT SINGH starring Gurdas Maan.
With renewed interest from the public, Punjabi cinema has seen a revival with more releases every year featuring bigger budgets, home grown stars, and Bollywood actors of Punjabi descent taking part.
2011 looks to be the year when the industry moves away from the "typical NRI-centered" storylines and towards more meaningful and creative storylines with movies like The Lion of Punjab
and Dharti
. This year also saw the production of the first Punjabi 3D feature film Pehchaan 3D.
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
is a 2011 Punjabi film directed by Mandeep Kumar with story and screenplay by Dheeraj Rattan, produced by Batra Showbiz Pvt. Ltd. and starring Gippy Grewal, Diljit Dosanjh
, Neeru Bajwa
, Jaswinder Bhalla
.
Best feature film awards were won by Chann Pardesi (1980), directed by Chitrarth; Marhi Da Deeva (1989), directed by Surinder Singh; Kachehari (1994), Main Maa Punjab Dee (1998), written and directed by Balwant Dullat; Shaheed-E-Mohabbat (1999), directed by Manoj Punj; Shaheed Udham Singh (2000), directed by Chitrarth; and Des Hoya Pardes (2005)."waris shah - ishq daa waaris" (2006)directed by Manoj Punj.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
film industry in the states of Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. This article deals with Punjabi cinema in India.
The first Punjabi film was released in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, provincial capital of the Pakistani Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. The Lahore film industry is known as Lollywood
Lollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
, a portmanteau of the words Lahore and Hollywood, similarly, Punjabi cinema has been called Pollywood by western audiences.
As of 2009, the Punjabi film industry has produced between 900 and 1,000 films. The average number of releases per year in the 1970s was nine; in the 1980s, eight; and in the 1990s, six. In 1995, the number of films released was 11; it plummeted to seven in 1996 and touched a low of five in 1997. Since the 2000s Punjabi cinema has seen a revival with more releases every year with bigger budgets, home grown stars, and Bollywood actors of Punjabi descent taking part.
First film
K.D. Mehra made the first Punjabi "talkie" film, Sheila, also known as Pind Di Kudi in 1936. Young Noor JehanNoor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
was introduced as an actress and singer in this film. Sheila was made in Calcutta and released in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. It ran very successfully and was a hit across the province. Due to the success of this film more producers started making Punjabi films. K.D. Mehra made his second film, Heer Sial (1938), with the assistance of M.M. Billoo Mehra. This film had Noor Jehan and new artists Balo and M. Ismail. This film was commercially successful.
Due to the vast Punjabi community in Lahore and Punjab, the area soon became a significant Punjabi-language film market. Studios opened up and many artists, producers, directors, and technicians from Bombay and Calcutta shifted to Lahore. Prominent names were Shanta Apte, Motilal
Motilal (actor)
- External links :* http://www.3to6.com/final_retro/legend-motilal.htm...
, Chandra Mohan
Chandra Mohan (actor)
Chandra Mohan or Chandramohan is a Telugu film actor. He acted as Hero, comedy, support character roles in many Telugu films.-Early life:...
, Hiralal, Noor Jehan, Mumtaz Shanti
Mumtaz Shanti
Mumtaz Shanti was a famous movie star of the Bollywood yesteryears, she was very popular in the 40's and early 50's with hit movies like Basant , Kismet , Ghar Ki Izzat with young Dilip Kumar...
, Wali, Syed Attahullah Shah Hashmi, Krishna Kumar, and Shanker Hussain. Baldev Raj Chopra
Baldev Raj Chopra
Baldev Raj Chopra was an Indian director and producer of Bollywood movies and television serials...
, later known as a director, got started in the movie industry in Lahore, where he ran a film magazine called the Cine Herald. Ramanand Sagar
Ramanand Sagar
Ramanand Sagar was an Indian film director. He is most famous for making the extremely popular Ramayan television series, a television adaptation of the ancient Indian epic of the same name, starring Arun Govil as Lord Ram and Deepika Chikhalia as Sita.Sagar was born at Asal Guru-Ke near Lahore...
, also later a director, was associated with the Evening News. Syed Attahullah Shah Hashmi worked for the film newspaper Adakar.
Punjabi partition
In 1947, India was dividedPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
into two parts, India and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The Punjab region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
was split between the two nations. West Punjab
West Punjab
West Punjab was a province of Pakistan from 1947 to 1955. The province covered an area of 160,622 km², including much of the current Punjab province and the Islamabad Capital Territory, but excluding the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The capital was the city of Lahore and the province...
became part of Pakistan and East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
became part of India. This affected Punjabi cinema because most Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
artists and directors moved to Pakistan, and worked in Lollywood, while Sikhs and Hindus moved to Bombay.
1950s
Attempts were made to keep Indian Punjabi cinema alive in this period. Film-makers made films like PostiPosti
Itella Corporation is a national mail enterprise owned by the Finnish state, headquartered in Pohjois-Pasila, Helsinki. Besides domestic operations, it operates in twelve other European countries...
, Do Lachhian and Bhangra with some success but were not able to revive Punjabi cinema. Songs from the films would run for months and years on the radio resulting in a long term audience for the films.
Post-partition, the trend of comedies continued. One of the hit comedies was Mulkh Raj Bhakhri's Bhangra (1958), starring Sundar and Nishi. It was remade by director Mohan Bhakhri as Jatti in 1980 with Mehar Mittal and Aparna Chowdhry, and it was again a commercial success. The music from the film was by Hansraj Behl
Hansraj Behl
Hansraj Behl was an Indian music composer, who composed music for Hindi and Punjabi films.-Early life and education:Born in Ambala, Punjab, Hansraj received his early education in music from Pandit Chunnilal.-Career:...
with lyrics by Verma Malik
Verma Malik
Verma Malik was a Bollywood lyricist. He was an active freedom fight when in was in reign of British, he wrote many patriotic songs and chose India after partition. He wrote Bhajan and often recites them before penning lyrics for films.Hansraj Behl helped him in the beginning of his career...
. Songs sung by Shamshad and Rafi like "Batti balkay banere utte rakhdi han, rah bhul na jave chann mera" and "Chitte dand hasnon nayion rehnde" were widespread hits. Johnny Walker (1957) was a hit and was later remade under the same title, featuring Mehar Mittal in the lead role and Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
as a guest star.
1960s
The big-budget romantic Punjabi film by director Padam Prakash Maheshwary, Satluj de Kande, was released in 1964. This film starred Balraj SahniBalraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni , born Yudhishthir Sahni , was a famous Hindi film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri family from Bhera now in Punjab, Pakistan...
, Nishi, Wasti, and Mirza Musharraf, with music by Hansraj Behl
Hansraj Behl
Hansraj Behl was an Indian music composer, who composed music for Hindi and Punjabi films.-Early life and education:Born in Ambala, Punjab, Hansraj received his early education in music from Pandit Chunnilal.-Career:...
. This was the only Punjabi film starring Balraj Sahni. It was a major hit and earned a National Film Award. Satluj de Kande was broadcast three times on the public TV channel Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
in India.
In 1969 the religious film Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai starring Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor , 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was a pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry, who started his career as an actor, in the silent era of Hindi cinema, associated with IPTA and who founded Prithvi Theatres, a travelling theatre company based in Mumbai, in...
, I. S. Johar
I. S. Johar
Inderjeet s Johar , better known as I. S. Johar, was an Indian actor, writer, producer and director.-Early life:...
, Vimmi, Som Dutt, Nishi, Suresh, and David Abraham was released. The film was the first really major successful Punjabi film in post-independent India with a major cultural impact on Punjabi Sikhs at home and abroad and is credited with the revival of the Punjabi film industry in India. People stood in kilometre long lines to buy a ticket for the film.
1970s
After the success of Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai, films were released in huge numbers. Hindi actors of Punjabi descent became interested in Punjabi films. Kankan De Ohle (DharmendraDharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
, Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
and Ravindra Kapoor) and Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
, Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni , born Yudhishthir Sahni , was a famous Hindi film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri family from Bhera now in Punjab, Pakistan...
, Ram Mohan and Asha Sachdev) were released in 1970. 1971 saw no major releases. In 1972, Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
starred with Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor , 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was a pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry, who started his career as an actor, in the silent era of Hindi cinema, associated with IPTA and who founded Prithvi Theatres, a travelling theatre company based in Mumbai, in...
in Mele Mitran De. Man Jeete Jag Jeet, a religious film starring Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt , born Sunil Balraj Dutt, was an Indian Hindi movie actor , producer, director and politician. He was the cabinet minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government...
, Radha Saluja
Radha Saluja
Radha Saluja is an Indian film actress who has worked mainly in Hindi cinema and Punjabi cinema, along with a few movies in Tamil and Telugu. She is the elder sister of well known editor Renu Saluja., and known for her films, like Haar Jeet and Ek Mutthi Aasmaan...
and Ranjeet
Ranjeet
Gopal Bedi is an actor in Indian films and television, born in Jandiala Guru near Amritsar . He has played mostly character roles, with roles as the villain dominating his over 200 Hindi films...
, was a major release of 1973. In 1974, Do Sher
Do Sher
Do Sher is a 1974 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra....
(Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
and Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
), Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
and Feroz Khan
Feroz Khan
Feroz Khan was an Indian actor, film editor, producer and director in the Hindi film industry...
), Sacha Mera Roop Hai (Manmohan Krishan) and Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam
Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam
Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam is a Punjabi movie about the Sikhism. It was a great success. As mentioned earlier it had a big cast, but most of them had mere a special or guest appearances.-Plot:...
(Shaminder Singh and Radha Saluja) were released. The most successful was Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam, due to the wide appeal of its religious historical setting and appearances by Bollywood superstars including Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt , born Sunil Balraj Dutt, was an Indian Hindi movie actor , producer, director and politician. He was the cabinet minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government...
, Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
, Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
, Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker (actor)
Johnny Walker is the screen name of an Indian movie comedian, who acted in over 300 movies. He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore, India, the son of a mill worker. The family shifted to Mumbai when the textile mill his father worked in closed...
, and Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
.
Teri Meri Ek Jindri (1975) starred Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
and introduced his cousin Veerendra
Veerendra
Veerendra was a legendary Punjabi film star who made 25 films in his 12-year career. Some these films were Lambardarni, Sarpanch, Batwara and Yaari Jatt Di. He also tried his hand at Hindi films, dubbed. Those were Khel Muqaddar Ka and Do Chehere .-Family:Veerendra was a cousin of superstar...
. Many films were released in 1976: Daaj Giddha
Giddha
About the Folk dance=Giddha is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The dance is often considered derived from the ancient dance known as the ring dance and is just as energetic as Bhangra; at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace, elegance...
, Main Papi Tum Bakhshanhaar, Papi Tarey Anek, Santo Banto
Santo Banto
Santo Banto is a 1976 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra....
, Sardar-E-Azam, Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun, Taakra, and Yamla Jatt. Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun was the biggest hit and starred Dara Singh. The film ran into conflict with the Sikh political parties as the film had Fauj-i-Khas
Fauj-i-Khas
The Fauj-i-Khas was a brigade of the Sikh Khalsa Army of Punjab in the time before the First Anglo-Sikh War.It was the Maharaja Ranjit Singh who started to hire European officers to train and command parts of his army...
soldiers wearing fake beards. The year 1977 was not a major one for the Punjabi film industry. Jai Mata Di, Saal Solvan Chadya, Sat Sri Akal, and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha were released, amongst others. Saal Solvan Chadya was a highlight because of the cameo appearance by Rekha. Sat Sri Akal was another hit film. It starred Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt , born Sunil Balraj Dutt, was an Indian Hindi movie actor , producer, director and politician. He was the cabinet minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government...
, Shatrughan Sinha
Shatrughan Sinha
Shatrughan Sinha is an Indian film actor and politician. Apart from being member of Rajya Sabha twice he was also Union Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Shipping...
, and Premnath
Premnath
Premnath Malhotra was an actor in Indian films.-Personal life:Born in Peshawar in a hindkowan Punjabi family, his family moved to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh after partition, he then had moved to Bombay....
. In 1978 Udeekan, Dhyani Bhagat, Jai Mata Sheranwali, and Jindri Yar Di were released. The drama Udeekan was a hit. Walayati Babu, the first ever remake in Punjabi cinema, was released in 1978. The film was remade from the Punjabi film of the same name by Johnny Walker, and featured a special appearance by Amitabh Bachchan. 1979 was a big year: Guru Manio Granth, Jatt Punjabi, Kunwara Mama, Sukhi Pariwar, and Til Til Dalekha were released. The religious film Guru Manio Granth was an instant hit. Jatt Punjabi had a big cast and a special appearance by Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar is an award-winning Indian actor and director in the Bollywood film industry. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname "Mr Bharat"...
. Til Til Da Lekha won the Punjab State Government award for best story writer and second best feature film of 1979. The first mystery film was released, Vangaar (The Challenge); it failed to become a hit.
1980s
Chann Pardesi, the first Punjabi film to win the national award, was released in 1980, and was the biggest hit of that year. It starred Raj BabbarRaj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
, Rama Vij, Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri
Amrish Singh Puri , ; 22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005 was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad...
, Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
, and Kulbhusun Kharbanda. Fauji Chacha had veteran Bollywood actor Sanjeev Kumar in the lead. A remake of Mulkh Raj Bhakhri's 1958 film Bhangra came out in 1980 from director Mohan Bhakhri. The film was titled Jatti, and starred Sundar, Nishi, Mehar Mittal, and Aparna Chowdhry. As with the original, the remake was a tremendous success.
1981 had only one hit: Balbiro Bhabhi. This film had Veerendra
Veerendra
Veerendra was a legendary Punjabi film star who made 25 films in his 12-year career. Some these films were Lambardarni, Sarpanch, Batwara and Yaari Jatt Di. He also tried his hand at Hindi films, dubbed. Those were Khel Muqaddar Ka and Do Chehere .-Family:Veerendra was a cousin of superstar...
in the lead role. Two major releases of 1985 were Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da and Sarpanch. The former was a religious film that established Gurdas Mann as a star. Sarpanch starred Veerendra. In 1983, many movies were released, with Putt Jattan De
Putt Jattan De
Putt Jattan De is a 1981 Punjabi action film produced by Devinder Singh Gill & Iqbal Dhillon and directed by Jagjit Gill. It is considered among the great hits in the history of Punjwood & has become a trendsetter of Punjabi Action movies. It stars Shatrughan Sinha, Dharmendra, Daljeet Kaur and...
the biggest commercially. Veerendra had another hit in 1984 with the film Yaari Jatt Di. This film was the first Punjabi film to have more than half its footage shot in the United Kingdom. Mamla Garbar Hai was a hit for actor Gurdas Mann. The film's songs were especially loved.
Two hit films of 1985 were Mohammad Sadiq's Guddo and Veerendra's Vairi. Long Da Lishkara was the big hit of 1986, starring Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
, Gurdas Mann, Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
, and Nina Deol. In 1987 Veerendra starred in Patola and Jor Jatt Da. Punjab was shaken with the assassination of Veerendra by gunshot during the filming of Jatt Tey Zameen. The death opened the door for supporting actors including Gugu Gill
Gugu Gill
Kulwinder Singh Gill known as Guggu Gill is a Punjabi film actor. He was a leading actor in Punjabi cinema in the 1990s along with Yograj Singh. He has done 30-40 films so far.-Career:...
and Yograj Singh
Yograj Singh
Yograjsingh Bhagsingh Bhandal, popularly known as Yograj Singh or simply Yograj was an Indian cricketer who played one Test and six ODIs for India as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. After his career was ended by injury, he entered Punjwood, Punjabi film industry...
to take leading roles.
1988 had no major film releases. In 1989 came the critically acclaimed Marhi Da Diva. The film starred Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljeet Singh, Parikshit Sahni, and Deepti Naval
Deepti Naval
Deepti Naval is an acclaimed Indian actress. She has acted in over 75 Hindi films, and most often worked in arthouse and independent films, known as parallel cinema in India.-Early life:Born in Amritsar, Punjab, India...
.
1990s
In 1990 Qurbani Jatt Di, starring Gugu GillGugu Gill
Kulwinder Singh Gill known as Guggu Gill is a Punjabi film actor. He was a leading actor in Punjabi cinema in the 1990s along with Yograj Singh. He has done 30-40 films so far.-Career:...
, Yograj Singh
Yograj Singh
Yograjsingh Bhagsingh Bhandal, popularly known as Yograj Singh or simply Yograj was an Indian cricketer who played one Test and six ODIs for India as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. After his career was ended by injury, he entered Punjwood, Punjabi film industry...
, Gurdas Mann, Dharmendra
Dharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
, Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
and Priti Sapru
Priti Sapru
Priti Sapru is an evergreen actress of the Punjabi Cinema. She has given a number of Punjabi hit movies with Actor Veerendra, Gurdas Maan & Raj Babbar such as, Nimmo, Yaari Jat Di & Qurbani Jatt Di. Her work was the centre of a film festival in 2003...
. The film was directed by Preeti Sapru herself, and did well at the box office. A second important release was Dushmani Di Agg the last film of Veerendra. It also starred Gurdas Mann and Priti Sapru, and was successful at the box office. In 1991 the major film Anakh Jattan Di starred Diljit Kaur and Gugu Gill. It was the first movie where the people really accepted ex-villain Gugu Gill as a hero. The film was followed by films like Jor Jatt Da, which managed to recover its cost. Badla Jatti Da was the major success of the year. It starred Gugu Gill, Yograj Singh in a villain role, and Aman Noorie. Udeekan Saun Diyan garnered critical acclaim, but was not a commercial success. Sounh Menoo Punjab Di, starring Satish Kaul, Rama Vij, Mehar Mittal, and Pal Randhawa was also one of releases of 1991. The film was directed by Sukhdev Ahluwalia, one of the most successful directors of Punjwood, and had music by Surinder Kohli.
Vaisakhi starring Deep Dhillon and Sunita Dheer, was released in 1991 to critical acclaim, but did not succeed commercially. Jatt Jeona Morh was a major hit that year, and made Gugu Gill a superstar. Also released was Yograj Singh
Yograj Singh
Yograjsingh Bhagsingh Bhandal, popularly known as Yograj Singh or simply Yograj was an Indian cricketer who played one Test and six ODIs for India as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. After his career was ended by injury, he entered Punjwood, Punjabi film industry...
's Jagga Daku
Jagga Daku (1991 film)
Jagga Daku is a Punjabi movie released in 1991. It is based on the real life Punjabi dacoit Jagga Daku. It had Yograj Singh in the main role as Jagga Daku....
, which did moderately well. Dil Da Mamla, starring Guggu Gill and Amar Noori, did poorly at the box office.
1993 had films like Jatt Sucha Singh Soorma (with Yograj Singh and Neena Sidhu), Mirza Sahiban (starring Gugu Gill), Lalkara Jatt Da, and Saali Adhi Gharwali. These films managed to do adequately at the box office, but were not major successes. Preeti Sapru's Mehndi Shagnan Di, starring Malkit Singh, Hansraj Hans, Preeti Sapru, and Yograj Singh, lost money. Kudi Canada Di starring Yograj Singh also did poorly.
Kachehri (1994) starred Gurdas Mann, Yograj Singh, and others. The film was praised by critics, was a commercial success, and won a national award. A second release was Tabahi, starring newcomer Vishal Singh
Vishal Singh
Vishal Singh is a polo player from Rajasthan, India. He currently plays for Rajasthan Polo Club.Vishal Singh is one of the youngest polo players in India. He was awarded the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Award in 2001. He is also known for his role as Rishi in Kasamh Se...
; it was the blockbuster hit of the year. Guggu Gill's Vairi did quite well at the box office, but Jigra Jatt Da, with Yograj Singh as the villain, did poorly at the box office.
Kimi Verma starred in Naseebo and Qahar in 1995 to critical acclaim, but not commercial success. Naseebo managed managed to recover its costs. Pratigya, starring Gugu Gill, Gurdas Maan, Preeti Sapru, and Dara Singh did well at the box office. Zaildaar (Yograj Singh), Nain Preeto De (Yograj Singh), and Sir Dhad Di Baazi did well. Gurdas Mann's Baghawat did not. Jakhmi Jagirdar and Mera Punjab amongst others also did poorly that year.
Punjabi cinema began to decline in 1996. Only the film Sukha (starring Vishal Singh) did well at the box office. Deson Pardeson, Dhee Jatt Di (Upasana Singh, Gurkirtan, and Shivinder Mahal), Vichoda (Yograj Singh), Gawahi Jatt Di, and Jorawar all did poorly at the box office. Dara Singh's Vindoo and Farha's Rabb Diyan Rakhan also fared poorly.
Films of 1997 (Mela, Truck Driver, Sardari, Preetan De Pehredaar, and Pachtaawa) all failed to make a profit. Even Gugu Gill's films were not successful. Train to Pakistan was filmed in a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, and was later dubbed into Punjabi for film festivals.
In 1998 Gugu Gill's Purja Purja Kat Mare, Dara Singh, Ravinder Maan, and Vishal's Laali, and Kalbhooshan Kharbanda and Tanuja's Dildaara did not make money. Even big budget films like Guru Gobind Singh did poorly. The critically acclaimed Main Maa Punjab Dee won a National award, but it was not a big hit initially. Later this film was shown repeatedly on national television. The year ended on a positive note as Jaspal Bhatti
Jaspal Bhatti
Jaspal Singh Bhatti is an Indian television personality famous for his satirical take on the problems of the common man...
's Mahaul Theek Hai became an instant hit of Punjabi cinema. It was the first big hit since Jatt Jeona Morh (1991) and Badla Jatti Da (1992).
Punjabi films were more successful in 1999. Mahaul Theek Hai, Gurdas Maan, and Divya Dutta
Divya Dutta
Divya Dutta is an Indian actress from Ludhiana, Punjab, India who appears in Hindi and Punjabi films.- Career :She did her schooling from Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana...
's Shaheed e Mohabbat was a critical and commercial success. Muqqadar, Tera Mera Pyar, Nadiyon Vichde Neer, Door Nahin Nankana, and Ishq Nachave Gali Gali (Randeep Virender, Manjeet Kullar, Deepak Saraf, Neeru Singh, Surinder Sharma) all did poorly at the box office. Rajniti, which was also made in Hindi, failed to make money. Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
's Shaheed Udham Singh did well towards the end of the year. There were only two major hits that year, Shaheed e Mohabbat and Shaheed Udham Singh.
2000s
In 2000 there was just a single release: Dard Pardesan De, starring Avinash WadhawanAvinash Wadhawan
Avinash Wadhawan is a Bollywood film actor. He has acted numerous films in 1990's as hero, but fortune never favoured him as most of his solo starrers were flop. He co-starred with Rahul Roy in Junoon and it was a moderate success...
, Upasana Singh
Upasana Singh
Upasana Singh is a Punjabi film star who has worked in many Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati films and have played special roles in Bollywood films as well...
, Paramveer, and Deepshikha, which fared poorly in Punjab, but did very well overseas. Sikandra and Jagira were released in 2001. Avinash Wadhawan and Ayesha Jhulka
Ayesha Jhulka
Ayesha Jhulka is a Bollywood actress. She is the daughter of Wing Commander Jhulka, an Indian Air Force Officer. During her career, she has worked with major stars like Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar,...
starred in Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas , which was released to the overseas market but not in Punjab.
In 2002 Jee Ayan Nu was released, featuring singer turned actor Harbhajan Mann
Harbhajan Mann
Harbhajan Mann is a Punjabi singer and actor. Although not known much for his singing he soon became a Punjabi all rounder star in the entertainment industry. He got spotlight in Punjabi music industry with his astonishing performance and miraculous voice in "Husn Jawani"...
and directed by Manmohan Singh. The movie was made on a big budget for Punjwood - 90 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
s, as compared to the more typical 20-50 lakhs. Badla came out in 2003. Asa Nu Maan Watna Da was released in 2004, again with actor Harbhajan Mann and director Manmohan Singh.
Jija Ji, Des Hoyaa Pardes, Main Tu Assi Tussi, Yaaran Naal Baharan, and Nalaik were released in 2005. Dil Apna Punjabi (again pairing Harbhajan and Manmohan), Ek Jind Ek Jaan, Mannat directed and written by Gurbir Singh Grewal Having Jimmy Sheirgill and Introducing Kulraj Randhawa and Waris Shah came out in 2006. Kambdi Kalai a Punjabi diaspora movie based out of the United States, came out in 2006. Rustam-e-Hind and Mitti Wajan Mardi (Harbhajan and Manmohan) were released in 2007.
A significant number of movies were produced in 2008: Yaariyan, Mera Pind, Lakh pardesi hoye, Heaven on earth, and Sat sri akal. In 2009, Jag Jeodeye Deh Mele became a hit, and Tera Mera Ki Ristha with Jimmy Shergill
Jimmy Shergill
Jasjit Singh Gill , popularly known as Jimmy Shergill , is an Indian actor.-Early life:Shergill was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Gorakhpur, India and studied there till 5th Grade in St. Paul's School. Then, his family shifted to Patiala...
was a hit. But the biggest earner of all the punjabi films was Manmohan Singh's Munde Uk De with Jimmy Shergill and Gurpreet Ghugghi.
Munde Uk De broke the record of Dil Apna Punjabi Movie which was also directed by Manmohan Singh and became the biggest earner of all the Punjabi movies.
Mehndi Wale Hath with new star cast Goldie Somal, Gavie Chahal, Prableen etc. Was a hit film in east punjab teritory realesed in 2006. Written &Directed by Harinder Gill.
Jawani Zindabad featuring Raj Barar the famous punjabi singer, Pooja Kanwal, Gugu Gill, Gurkirtan etc. Written & directed by Harinder Gill released in March 2010.Its a big hit in Canada.
Channa Sachi Muchi starring Miss Puja & Goldie Somal writer & directer Harinder Gill realesed in Aug.2010.
2010s
In 2010, 16 movies were released. Mel Karade RabbaMel Karade Rabba
Mel Karade Rabba is a 2010 Punjabi film directed by Navaniat Singh with story, screenplay & dialogues by Dheeraj Rattan, produced by Rajan Batra and Vivek Ohri, and starring Jimmy Shergill, Gippy Grewal, Neeru Bajwa, Amar Noorie, Sunita Dhir & Shavinder Mahal.Mel Karade Rabba released on 16th July,...
, starring Jimmy Shergill
Jimmy Shergill
Jasjit Singh Gill , popularly known as Jimmy Shergill , is an Indian actor.-Early life:Shergill was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Gorakhpur, India and studied there till 5th Grade in St. Paul's School. Then, his family shifted to Patiala...
later broke all records and grossed 32.50 crore nett and became the highest grossing Punjabi film ever. Sukhmani-hope for life, starring Gurdas Maan, Juhi chawla & divya Dutta
In the year ending Chak Jawana were released, directed by SIMERJIT SINGH starring Gurdas Maan.
2011s
In February 2011, the PTC Punjabi channel organised the first ever Punjabi film awards at Panchkula. It was a tremendous boost to the industry and was attended by the likes of Om Puri , Prem Chopra, Gurdas Maan, Guddu Dhanoa , Preeti Sapru, Raza Muraad, Satish Kaul , Manmohan Singh, Amrinder Gill, Gippy Grewal , Jasbir Jassi, Puneet Issar, Rakesh Bedi, Rama Vij, Sudhanshu Pandey, Akriti Kakkar and many more.With renewed interest from the public, Punjabi cinema has seen a revival with more releases every year featuring bigger budgets, home grown stars, and Bollywood actors of Punjabi descent taking part.
2011 looks to be the year when the industry moves away from the "typical NRI-centered" storylines and towards more meaningful and creative storylines with movies like The Lion of Punjab
The Lion of Punjab
The Lion of Punjab is a Punjabi film starring Diljit Dosanjh, making his debut as an actor. It is also the debut Punjabi movie of Bollywood director Guddu Dhanoa.The film was released on 11 February 2011...
and Dharti
Dharti (2011)
Dharti is a 2011 Punjabi film directed by Navaniat Singh with story, screenplay & dialogues by Manoj Jha. Dharti is produced by Darshan Singh Grewal, J.S...
. This year also saw the production of the first Punjabi 3D feature film Pehchaan 3D.
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya is a 2011 Punjabi film directed by Mandeep Kumar with story and screenplay by Dheeraj Rattan, produced by Batra Showbiz Pvt. Ltd...
is a 2011 Punjabi film directed by Mandeep Kumar with story and screenplay by Dheeraj Rattan, produced by Batra Showbiz Pvt. Ltd. and starring Gippy Grewal, Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh is a Punjabi singer. Born in the village of Dosanjh Kalan in Punjab, India.- Career :Diljit debuted with his album Ishq Da Uda Ada. It was released by T-Series...
, Neeru Bajwa
Neeru Bajwa
Neeru Bajwa is an Indian model turned actress who first started with roles in Indian soaps on Star Plus and Zee TV and now appears in Bollywood films. The real name of Neeru Bajwa is Arshvir Bajwa. She is engaged to television actor Amit Sadh.-Early life:...
, Jaswinder Bhalla
Jaswinder Bhalla
Jaswinder Singh Bhalla, born on 4th, May 1958, in Doraha, Dt.Ludhiana in Punjab is a well-known Punjabi comedian. He is also faculty at Punjab Agricultural University. He is famous for his Punjabi skits in his Chankata series. He started his professional carrier with an audio cassette titled...
.
National Award winners
Satluj De Kande (1964) and Nanak Naam Jahaaz Hai (1969) directed by Panna Lal Maheshwari won the National Award's Certificate of Merit.Best feature film awards were won by Chann Pardesi (1980), directed by Chitrarth; Marhi Da Deeva (1989), directed by Surinder Singh; Kachehari (1994), Main Maa Punjab Dee (1998), written and directed by Balwant Dullat; Shaheed-E-Mohabbat (1999), directed by Manoj Punj; Shaheed Udham Singh (2000), directed by Chitrarth; and Des Hoya Pardes (2005)."waris shah - ishq daa waaris" (2006)directed by Manoj Punj.
Punjabi stars
- Amrinder GillAmrinder Gill-Career:Born and raised in village Boorchand Amritsar, Punjab, Amrinder Gill has become a firm favorite with the new generation of Punjabi music fans with his laid back style, up-market video and catchy Punjabi pop tracks, while having a hold over Desi lovers with his range of emotional songs...
- Anupam KherAnupam KherAnupam Kher is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 400 films and 100 plays. Though mainly appearing in Bollywood films, he has had roles in some films from other nations as well...
- Babbu Mann
- Bhavana BhattBhavana BhattBhavana Bhatt also known as Bhawna Bhatt is an actress in Bollywood and Punjwood.Bhatt started her career in the Hindi film Do Jasoos, where she worked with legends such as Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar. Later she acted opposite Raj Kapoor's son in Naya Daur in 1978...
- Bitly Maan (Director)
- Daljeet KaurDaljeet KaurDaljeet Kaur is a Punjabi actress who has been called the Hema Malini of Punjabi films for her maximum Silver Jubilee hits. She has also worked in about 10 Bollywood movies.-Early life:...
- Divya DuttaDivya DuttaDivya Dutta is an Indian actress from Ludhiana, Punjab, India who appears in Hindi and Punjabi films.- Career :She did her schooling from Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana...
- Diljit DosanjhDiljit DosanjhDiljit Dosanjh is a Punjabi singer. Born in the village of Dosanjh Kalan in Punjab, India.- Career :Diljit debuted with his album Ishq Da Uda Ada. It was released by T-Series...
- Gavie ChahalGavie ChahalGavie Chahal is an Indian actor from Mansa, Punjab. He also had worked in Punjab Police.He participated in many fashion shows and won the title of Mr Punjab in the year 2000 after which he started a career in the music industry. His first music video was Jattan De Putt Saadh Ho Gaye. Since then,...
- Gippy Grewal
- Gugu GillGugu GillKulwinder Singh Gill known as Guggu Gill is a Punjabi film actor. He was a leading actor in Punjabi cinema in the 1990s along with Yograj Singh. He has done 30-40 films so far.-Career:...
- Gurdas MaanGurdas MaanGurdas Maan is an Indian singer, songwriter, choreographer, and actor. He is considered one of the most notable figures in the world of Punjabi music. He was born on 4 January 1957 in Giddarbaha, Muktsar, Punjab, India...
- Gurpreet GhuggiGurpreet GhuggiGurpreet Ghuggi is an Indian comedian born in the village of Khokhar Fojian in District Gurdaspur, Punjab, India. Currently, he resides in Jalandhar, Punjab.-Family:...
- Harbhajan MannHarbhajan MannHarbhajan Mann is a Punjabi singer and actor. Although not known much for his singing he soon became a Punjabi all rounder star in the entertainment industry. He got spotlight in Punjabi music industry with his astonishing performance and miraculous voice in "Husn Jawani"...
- Jaspal BhattiJaspal BhattiJaspal Singh Bhatti is an Indian television personality famous for his satirical take on the problems of the common man...
- Jimmy ShergillJimmy ShergillJasjit Singh Gill , popularly known as Jimmy Shergill , is an Indian actor.-Early life:Shergill was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Gorakhpur, India and studied there till 5th Grade in St. Paul's School. Then, his family shifted to Patiala...
- Juhi ChawlaJuhi ChawlaJuhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
- Kanwaljit SinghKanwaljit SinghKanwaljit Singh is an Indian actor who has performed in films as well as television serials. He has acted in Hindi as well as Punjabi films.-Early life and education:Kanwaljit hails from a Sikh family of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh...
- Kimi VermaKimi VermaKimi Verma , born 1979, is an Indian actress. She hails from Jagraon in Ludhiana and has a chain of photography studios there....
- Kulraj RandhawaKulraj RandhawaKulraj Kaur Randhawa is an Indian actress who shot to fame after her role as the bubbly “Kareena” in the popular TV series Kareena Kareena.- Background :...
- Madan PuriMadan PuriMadan Puri was an actor in Hindi and Punjabi films.-Early life:Madan Singh Puri was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab to S. Nihal Singh Puri and Ved Kaur...
- Manjeet KullarManjeet KullarManjeet Kullar is an Indian actress.Kullar did many films in Punjabi in the 90's, including Mirza Sahiban, Vairee, Deson Pardeson, Jaildaar, Main Maa Punjab Dee , Pachtawa, and Ishq Nachavye Gali Gali. Her major Hindi films were Tehkhaana, Dil Ka Kya Qasoor, Dhadkan, and Ikke Pe Ikka...
- Manmohan Singh (Director)Manmohan Singh (Director)Manmohan Singh, originally from a beautiful village Neza Dela Kalan of Sirsa, Haryana , is a director of Punjabi films. He also works as a cinematographer in Bollywood films. He has worked in the making of movies including Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Mohabbatein. He...
- Meher MittalMeher MittalMehar Mittal , is an Indian Punjabi actor and producer. He is known for playing comic roles in Punjwood films. He worked in over 100 Punjwood films in a career spanning three decades. Originally a lawyer in India, he ventured into the film industry with great success...
- Mustafa Qureshi
- Neeru BajwaNeeru BajwaNeeru Bajwa is an Indian model turned actress who first started with roles in Indian soaps on Star Plus and Zee TV and now appears in Bollywood films. The real name of Neeru Bajwa is Arshvir Bajwa. She is engaged to television actor Amit Sadh.-Early life:...
- Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
- Om PuriOm PuriOm Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
- Parmeet SethiParmeet Sethi-Personal life and education:Parmeet was educated in Mumbai. He passed out of Sydenham college of commerce. He married Archana Puran Singh, a film and television actress, on 30 June 1992. They have two sons...
- Raj BabbarRaj BabbarRaj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
- Raza MuradRaza MuradRaza Murad is an Indian actor working primarily in Hindi films. He has acted in over 200 Bollywood films.He is the son of renowned Bollywood character actor Murad. He is also the first cousin of Zeenat Aman, his uncle being Amanullah Khan, writer of Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah. His niece Sonam was...
- Saima Noor
- Satish KaulSatish KaulSatish Kaul is an actor in Punjabi and Hindi movies. Notable film roles include Sassi Punnu, Ishq Nimana, Suhag Chooda and Patola. During the militancy in Punjab, he stopped doing Punjabi films and moved to television....
- Shaan Shahid
- Shafqat CheemaShafqat CheemaShafqat Cheema is a well-known Pakistani film actor and director who has acted roles in many Urdu and Punjabi-language Lollywood films. He is notably known to have played the role of an antagonist in the 2011 blockbuster film Bol.-Filmography:...
- Shashi PuriShashi PuriShashi Puri was part of Hindi films. Later he did few Punjabi films including Saali Adhi Gharwali, Duja Viah, Udeekan Saun Diyan, Jako Rakhe Saiyan etc.-Hindi:*Dil Ke Jharoke Main .... Advocate Suresh*Sangdil Sanam .... Police Inspector...
- Shivendra MahalShivendra MahalShivendra Mahal is a Punjwood actor, anchor and movie director. He began his career with serials like his dual role portrayel of Parshurama and Shiva and mega-epic Mahabharata . He has done many serials in Hindi as well as in his motherlanguage Punjabi. He has directed a film 'Panchhtawa' in 1996....
- Sultan RahiSultan RahiSultan Muhammad , popularly known as Sultan Rahi, in a Muslim family of Saharanpur, was a notable Pakistani film actor who was prominent in Pakistan in Punjabi films during the 1970s and 1980s. He was mostly popular among people in Punjab, Pakistan and among Sikh and Punjabi community of India...
- Syed NoorSyed NoorSyed Noor is a Pakistani film director based in Lahore. He is considered as one of the best filmmaker of Pakistan and is famous for making issue-based films wrapped in entertainment...
- Tulip JoshiTulip JoshiTulip Joshi is an Indian actress who has appeared in Bollywood.-Early life:Joshi was born in Mumbai to a Gujarati Indian father and an Armenian Lebanese mother. She was brought up in Mumbai where she attended the Jamnabai Narsee School, and later Mithibai College from where she graduated majoring...
- Upasana SinghUpasana SinghUpasana Singh is a Punjabi film star who has worked in many Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati films and have played special roles in Bollywood films as well...
- VeerendraVeerendraVeerendra was a legendary Punjabi film star who made 25 films in his 12-year career. Some these films were Lambardarni, Sarpanch, Batwara and Yaari Jatt Di. He also tried his hand at Hindi films, dubbed. Those were Khel Muqaddar Ka and Do Chehere .-Family:Veerendra was a cousin of superstar...
- Vishal SinghVishal SinghVishal Singh is a polo player from Rajasthan, India. He currently plays for Rajasthan Polo Club.Vishal Singh is one of the youngest polo players in India. He was awarded the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Award in 2001. He is also known for his role as Rishi in Kasamh Se...
- Vivek ShauqVivek ShauqVivek Shauq was a noted actor, comedian, writer and singer. He had acted in Hindi and Punjabi films, television serials, theatre and television commercials. He was also a popular writer and singer. Shauq was also involved with the Sant Nirankari Mission. He was fluent in Urdu. He was also the...
- Yograj SinghYograj SinghYograjsingh Bhagsingh Bhandal, popularly known as Yograj Singh or simply Yograj was an Indian cricketer who played one Test and six ODIs for India as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. After his career was ended by injury, he entered Punjwood, Punjabi film industry...
- Harinder Gill (writer & Director)