Punjabi Film festival to be organized at Punjabi University
“Punjabi University will start Punjabi Film Festival as its annual feature from the current year on the lines of Aligarh Muslim University, which conducts Urdu Film Festivals on regular basis. It will also properly document Punjabi folk art forms in textual and audio-visual formats and patronize any kind of effort with the objective of promoting the rich Punjabi cultural heritage.”
This was announced by Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the University while presiding over a symposium on “New Trends in Punjabi Cinema”, organised by the University’s Department of Youth Welfare at Kala Bhawan here today. Top film star of Hindi films, who shot into prominence with such blockbusters as Machis, Munna Bhai MBBS, and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Jimmy Shergill participated in the discussion. He was accompanied by the heroine of famous TV soap, Kareena Kareena and Punjabi Feature films, Mannat and Tera Mera Ki Rishta, Kulraj Randhawa, comedy king, Gurpreet Ghugi, character actor, Binnu Dhillon and director of the film Tera Mera Ki Rishta, Navnit Gugnu. While advocating the adoption of an aggressive and proactive approach for the furtherance of Punjabi language and culture, the Vice-Chancellor declared to initiate a project by the University to trace the history of Punjabi Cinema and explore the possibilities for making high quality Punjabi films.
Jimmy Shergill regretted the fact that Punjabi film makers have to compromise on many fronts due to paucity of financers and producers who hesitate to extend financial help for making good quality films. “It was deplorable that Punjabi NRIs can spend exorbitantly to purchase liquor vends but draw cold feet when it comes to finance Punjabi films,” he said. While promising to make at least one Punjabi film every year, Shergill condemned the practice of making pirated copies of films which further lead to running down of the Punjabi films. Kulraj rejected the prevailing impression as a myth that girls, who aspire to join film industry, are exploited against their wishes. She urged for making collective efforts to promote Punjabi cinema. Binnu Dhillon said that Punjabis themselves were responsible for the downfall of Punjabi films.
In his emotional outburst against those who care a fig for the promotion of Punjabi cinema, Gurpreet Ghugi said that we have a long way to go till we reach the level and standard of Hindi feature films. He rated films as the best medium to promote a culture. He called upon the Sikh authorities to lift ban on showing some Sikh heroes in films as these were acting as ‘roadblocks’ in making historical films. While tracing the history of Punjabi cinema, Director Youth Welfare, Dr Satish Kumar Verma said that the past decade had launched a sort of renaissance and set new trends in the Punjabi film industry. He said that Punjabi was one of the richest languages of the world, occupying 12th place in 6,000 languages spoken all over the world. No other than Punjabis can salvage the prestige that was getting lost as Punjabis themselves feel ashamed of talking about their culture.
- both informative and entertaining…do promote culture
I agree that films
Its great to see Youth Welfare organizations at the University recognize the importance of strengthening the Punjabi Film industry. Films play a more influential role than people realize and I completely agree that films are a leading medium that shapes culture and perception. At their finest moments, they serve to open up closed minds. Punjabi film industry still has much to improve, although the last Punjabi movie I saw -“Sat Sri Akal”- was very watchable…which is a sign of progress.
Ideally, the motivation to become actors, film writes, directors or any other artist should come from passion and interest in the subject rather than just to make money. Ultimately if talented, creative and passionate people are involved in making Punjabi films which are both enjoyable and influence social progress, affluent people will invest in the growth of the industry.
Only when competent hands are in charge of the industry should the Sikh authorities lift their roadblocks that prevent access to historical material. I do not believe that the current establishment-although I must admit I don’t know who they are- are capable of making a quality product. My concern here is about the quality of the film because I feel the movie would be bound to succeed because of the subject matter and the Sikhs around the world willing to see it.
I would also like to see the Punjabi film industry take the challenge of making entertaining movies which also confront social issues affecting society -ie. Corruption and state governments, cast system bad, immigration to Punjab, cultural limitations imposed on women (I don’t think I have seen a Indian film, whether Bollywood or Punjabi, where the lead actor was a women and the story centered on her). Also, I disagree with Ghudi’s suggestion that Hindi films should serve as a standard for which the Punjabi Film industry should progress towards. The majority of Hindi films are pointless nonsense or plagiarized story lines from the west. Punjabi people deserve better.
sat sri akal,
This is ajit singh dhanjal , I am from boisar(tarapur) near mumbai , its great to know everything which
your organization is doing. Here i want to know how to join
you, i want to be a active person in your organization. I am
very very interested to bring up punjabi film industry on
world wide and on coperate level. I am very samll but i can bring big revolution in PUNJABI FILM INDUSTRY. I wrote some script(small story).
pls send me any contact or mail , from that
i can communicate.wait for your reply.
Ajit Singh Dhanjal
mob: 09970502420
dhanjalajit@yahoo.com
Let alone talking about the various compromises punjabi cinema goes through due to paucity of funds.
I think there is a need of a concerted effort from the actors and directors, to pitch well with the producers. The projects have to be tightly managed almost in the same fashion as business ventures are proposed to Venture Capitalist and Equity investers.
there is no dearth of talent in the industry…the need is to package it well.
A lot can be done by established punjabi origin, bollywood actors.
Jimmmy shergill’s endeavours are highly appreciated.
Dear Sir
When is the Punjabi Film festival. We wish to submit our Punjabi Film for this.
Regards
Parvinder Singh
Exec Director
Sovi Entertainments Pvt. Ltd
Mohali