Welcome To Punjab
Encyclopedia
Welcome To Punjab is being directed by National Award Winner Ravinder Peepat (“Chan Pardesi”, “Kacheri”). Leading the international cast is Canadian singer and actor Sarbjit Cheema (“Apni Boli Apna Des”) as Sukhchain, the next door Punjabi munda who is in love with Saumya Tandon (“Dance India Dance
– TV Show”), as Preet, a culturally oblivious NRI. Bollywood Legend Ranjeet (“Welcome
”, “Sharaabi
”, “Laawaris”, “Namak Halal”) as Harnam Singh, takes on the role of the grandfather of Saumya Tandon. Sudesh Lehri, the comedy king (TV shows - “Comedy Circus
”, “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
”) plays the role of Hero Singh, a close friend of Sarbjit Cheema. Rounding out the cast is Shavinder Mahal and Dolly Minhas as NRI parents of Saumya Tandon, settled in Toronto
, Canada
; Vijay Kashyap and Sunita Dhir and the Uncle and Aunt of Sarbjit Cheema; Neelu Kohli and Malkeet Rauni as Aunt and Uncle of Saumya Tandon, son and daughter-in-law of Harnam Singh; and Ramna Wadhawan as the wife of Harnam Singh.
The story and dialogues of the film are by Baldev Gill (“Jag Jeondeyan De Mele”). The film is produced by Divya Seengal, Kanad Kashyap, Bari Kang and Gurpal Singh Jhandi. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography W.B.Rao (“Rangeela
”, “Khuda Gawah
”); art director Gappa Chakraborty (“Zakhm
”, “Raaz
”); composer Aman Hayer
(“UK based bhangra composer”) and Anand Raj Anand
(“Indian music composer,” “Welcome
”, “Masti
”) and choreographer Bhupi.
Will the soulful Gurbani, the magnificence and history of these wonders give a new meaning to her life. Will her family’s wishes and prayers for Preet to embrace her land, people and values be fulfilled? Or will this just become a memory of a trip to Punjab for Canadian Preet? Preet’s Punjab experience has bought her to a crossroads in her life, which path will she choose?
(Canada
), the interiors of Punjab, Kulu Manali, on the banks of river Vyas, Pinjor Garden and Mumbai. The film also features the four revered Gurudwaras, Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib, Guru Ka Lahore and Manikaran Sahib together. The Gurudwaras are being featured together after many years in a Punjabi film. The shooting of the film completed in May 2010, and went straight into post production.
Dance India Dance
LUX Dance India Dance is a reality dance show that airs on the Indian satellite television channel Zee TV. The show has been produced by UTV Software Communications and has become India's largest dance-based reality show. The show is choreographed by some of the most popular Indian choreographers,...
– TV Show”), as Preet, a culturally oblivious NRI. Bollywood Legend Ranjeet (“Welcome
Welcome
Welcome may refer to:-Place names:* Welcome, Barnet, London, United Kingdom* Welcome , a metro station* Welcome Islands, a small rocky archipelago to the north of the main island of South Georgia* Welcome, Ontario, Canada...
”, “Sharaabi
Sharaabi
Sharaabi is a 1984 Indian Hindi movie produced and directed by Prakash Mehra. This was Prakash Mehra's last hit and sixth in a row with Amitabh, the other five being Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris and Namak Halaal...
”, “Laawaris”, “Namak Halal”) as Harnam Singh, takes on the role of the grandfather of Saumya Tandon. Sudesh Lehri, the comedy king (TV shows - “Comedy Circus
Comedy Circus
Comedy Circus is a reality-based stand up comedy show that brings India's TV celebrities to perform with professional comedian partners on a highly competitive and challenging stage. It is judged by Archana Puran Singh. Satish Shah and Johny Lever had judged this show...
”, “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is one of the very successful reality shows on Indian television. It is a competition of stand up comedians that is presented on STAR One...
”) plays the role of Hero Singh, a close friend of Sarbjit Cheema. Rounding out the cast is Shavinder Mahal and Dolly Minhas as NRI parents of Saumya Tandon, settled in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; Vijay Kashyap and Sunita Dhir and the Uncle and Aunt of Sarbjit Cheema; Neelu Kohli and Malkeet Rauni as Aunt and Uncle of Saumya Tandon, son and daughter-in-law of Harnam Singh; and Ramna Wadhawan as the wife of Harnam Singh.
The story and dialogues of the film are by Baldev Gill (“Jag Jeondeyan De Mele”). The film is produced by Divya Seengal, Kanad Kashyap, Bari Kang and Gurpal Singh Jhandi. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography W.B.Rao (“Rangeela
Rangeela
Rangeela may refer to:* Saeed Khan Rangeela , Pakistani film actor* Rangeela , a 1995 Indian movie...
”, “Khuda Gawah
Khuda Gawah
Khuda Gawah is a 1992 Bollywood film directed by Mukul S. Anand and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Sridevi , Shilpa Shirodkar and Danny Denzongpa.Amitabh plays the role of an Afghan , who travels between Afghanistan and India.Khuda Gawah had lavish...
”); art director Gappa Chakraborty (“Zakhm
Zakhm
Zakhm is a 1998 Hindi film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Ajay Devgn, Pooja Bhatt, Sonali Bendre, Kunal Khemu and Nagarjuna Akkineni...
”, “Raaz
Raaz
Raaz means "secret" and is the name of four Indian films:* Raaz , 1967 film directed by Ravindra Dave* Raaz , 1981 film directed by Harmesh Malhotra* Raaz , 2002 fantasy thriller film directed by Vikram Bhatt...
”); composer Aman Hayer
Aman Hayer
Amandeep Singh Hayer, better known as Aman Hayer, is a British Asian music artist and producer, born and based in the United Kingdom. The Bhangra producer, lyricist, director, musician and singer has worked on numerous albums since 2002...
(“UK based bhangra composer”) and Anand Raj Anand
Anand Raj Anand
Anand Raj Anand is an Indian music director, composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry.-Early life:Anand was born in Delhi to a family of jewellers...
(“Indian music composer,” “Welcome
Welcome
Welcome may refer to:-Place names:* Welcome, Barnet, London, United Kingdom* Welcome , a metro station* Welcome Islands, a small rocky archipelago to the north of the main island of South Georgia* Welcome, Ontario, Canada...
”, “Masti
Masti
Masti may refer to:*Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, a Kannada writer*Masti , a 2004 Bollywood movie starring Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi*Masti , a 2007 Kannada movie starring Upendra and Jennifer...
”) and choreographer Bhupi.
Plot
Welcome to Punjab is the story of Preet, an NRI settled in Canada, who has lost her Punjabi heritage and values to the western culture and lifestyle. The film follows Preet’s soulful journey in the land of the five rivers where she is not only greeted by people who shower her with love and affection but she also experiences one of the most colorful cultures in the world, that of Punjab. She ends her journey by visiting the four revered Gurudwaras, Anandpur Sahib, Guru Ka Lahore, Manikaran Sahib and The Golden TempleWill the soulful Gurbani, the magnificence and history of these wonders give a new meaning to her life. Will her family’s wishes and prayers for Preet to embrace her land, people and values be fulfilled? Or will this just become a memory of a trip to Punjab for Canadian Preet? Preet’s Punjab experience has bought her to a crossroads in her life, which path will she choose?
Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
| Sarbjit Cheema | Sukhchain |
| Saumya Tandon | Preet |
| 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... |
Harnam Singh |
| Sudesh Lahiri | Hero Singh |
| Shavinder Mahal | Gurkeerat |
| Dolly Minhas | Kulwant |
| Vijay Kashyap | Nihaal Singh |
| Sunita Dhir | Deepo |
| Neelu Kohli | Kuldeep |
| Malkeet Rauni | Gurmail |
| Ramna Wadhawan | Harnam Singh's wife |
| Preet Madan | Salma |
| Amrit Pal Singh | Sucha Singh |
Production
Shooting of the film began in November 2009. The film has been shot in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
(Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), the interiors of Punjab, Kulu Manali, on the banks of river Vyas, Pinjor Garden and Mumbai. The film also features the four revered Gurudwaras, Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib, Guru Ka Lahore and Manikaran Sahib together. The Gurudwaras are being featured together after many years in a Punjabi film. The shooting of the film completed in May 2010, and went straight into post production.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film have been composed by the music director Aman Hayer and Sukshinder Shinda, UK based Punjabi Composer and Anand Raj Anand, famous Bollywood Composer making his debut in the Punjabi Music Industry, while the lyrics have been penned by Kumaar, Sarbjit Cheema, Anand Raj Anand, Inda Rai Koti, Mohan Singh Preet & Bhupinder Matorwala and Jitt Salalewala and Prit Silon. The album contains six original songs and one wedding compilation.Tracklist
| No. | Track | Singers | Lyricist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kachcha Veda | Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand is an Indian music director, composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry.-Early life:Anand was born in Delhi to a family of jewellers... |
Kumaar | 5:45 |
| 02 | Saturday Night | Suzanne | Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand is an Indian music director, composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry.-Early life:Anand was born in Delhi to a family of jewellers... |
6:02 |
| 03 | Ghida | Sarbjit Cheema | Sarbjit Cheema | 5:05 |
| 04 | Punjabi Kehende Aa | Sarbjit Cheema | Inda Rai Koti | 4:57 |
| 05 | Dil Mere Jatt | Sarbjit Cheema and Sukshinder Shinda | Jitt Salalewala Sarbjit Cheema | 5:11 |
| 06 | Boli Utte Boli | Sarbjit Cheema | Sarbjit Cheema | 5:55 |
| 07 | Wedding Compilation | Ishmeet, Amrita, Harinder Hundal, Pushpinder, Neetu Bhalla | Mohan Singh Preet, Bhupinder Matorwala | 7:23 |
| 08 | Yaariyaan | Sarbjit Cheema , Labh Janjua Labh Janjua Labh Janjua is a bhangra / hip hop singer from India, who first became known after his bhangra song, Mundian To Bach Ke, was remixed by Panjabi MC in 2002, subsequently he has sung many Bollywood hits including, Jee Karda from Singh Is King... , Amrinder Gill Amrinder 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... , Jazzy B Jazzy B Jaswinder Singh Bains, more popularly known as Jazzy B, is a Punjabi language bhangra singer-songwriter. He was born on April 1, 1975 in Durgapur, Nawanshahr, Punjab, India. When he was 5 years old, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada. He has released 12 studio albums, including two religious ones... and Nachhatar Gill |
Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand Anand Raj Anand is an Indian music director, composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry.-Early life:Anand was born in Delhi to a family of jewellers... |
5:33 |
| 09 | Ki Kehne (Intro) | Sukshinder Shinda | Prit Silon | 1:09 |
| 10 | Ki Kehne | Sukshinder Shinda | Prit Silon | 5:42 |