Punjabi cinema
Punjwood is the informal name given to the Punjabi-language film industry in India. The term Pollywood is also often used in the place of Punjwood. Till now Punjwood has produced betwee, 900 and 1,000 movies. The average number of releases per year in the: 70's where 9, 80's where 8, 90s where 6.
Film list per year of the 00s
Dard Pardesan Dey
-
Deh Shiva Bar Mohe
Parivaar Vichhoda
Jee Ayan Nu
Asa Nu Maan Watna Da
Mittar Pyare Nu Haal Mureedan Da Kehna
2005
Des Hoyaa Pardes
Jija Ji
Main Tu Assi Tussi
Nalayak
Rustam-e-Hind
Sidha Chall Canada Nu
Yaaran Naal Baharan
Baaghi
Dil Apna Punjabi
Ek Jind Ek Jaan
Mannat
-
First film
The first Punjabi film was released in 1935, Pind Di Kudi also known as Sheila. The film was made in Calcutta. It starred Noor Jehan.
Paritition
In 1947, India was divided into 2 Parts: India and Pakistan (East & West). This affected the Punjabi cinema as Noor Jehan - the top actress was left in Pakistan.
First hit in India
There were many tries to keep Indian Punjabi Cinema alive. Film-makers made movies like Posti, Do Lachhian, Bhangra, Chaddian Di Doli, Chaudhury Karnail Singh, etc. Some of them succied. Movies like Posti and Chaudury Karnail Singh where hits but weren't able to revive the Punjabi cinema. Then in 1969 released religious film Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, IS Johar, Vimmi, Som Dutt, Nishi, Suresh, David. The film was a direct ducces. 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 km long lines to buy a ticket for the film.
Aftermath - The 70s
After Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai, movies started relasing in huge number. Hindi movie actors (who where from Punjabi descent) got interested in Punjabi movies. The next year saw releases such as Kankan De Ole (Dharmendra, Asha Parekh and Ravindra Kapoor), Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (Dara Singh, Balraj Sahni, Ram Mohan & Asha Sachdev). 1971 saw no major releases. Again in 1972, Dara Singh starred in a movie. This time he paired with Prithviraj Kapoor in Mele Mitran De. 1973 saw only one major release Man Jeete Jag Jeet. This film starred Sunil Dutt, Radha Saluja and Ranjeet in lead roles. Again it was a religious film. 1974 saw many releases like Do Sher (Dharmendra & Rajendra Kumar), Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (Dara Singh & Feroz Khan), Sacha Mera Roop Hai (Manmohan Krishan) and Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (Shaminder Singh & Radha Saluja). The best of them was Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam. This could have two reasons: 1. Because its a religious historical film. 2. It had many special appearances from Bollywood superstars: Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Dharmendra, Johnny Walker, Dara Singh etc. 1975 saw 1 major release: Teri Meri Ek Jindri. Along with Dharmendra this movie introduced his cousin brother Veerendra. 1976 saw many releases: Daaj (1976) Giddha (1976), Main Papi Tum Bakhshanhaar (1976), Papi Tarey Anek (1976), Santo Banto (1976), Sardar-E-Azam (1976), Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976), Taakra (1976), Yamla Jatt (1976). Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun was the biggest hit and starred Dara Singh. This movie ran into conflict with the Sikh political parties as the film had Khalsa Fauj soldiers wearing fake beards. The year 1977 wasn't a major one. Jai Mata Di, Saal Solvan Chadya, Sat Sri Akal, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha released amongst others. Saal Solvan Chadya was a highlight because of the cameo-appearence by Rekha. Sat Sri Akal was another hit film. It starred Sunil Dutt, Shatrughan Sinha and Premnath in lead roles. In 1978 where released Udeekan, Dhyani Bhagat, Jai Mata Sheranwali, Jindri Yar Di etc. Udeekan was a drama film and was a hit. The first ever remake in Punjabi cinema was released in 1978. The film was Walayati Babu. It was remade from an older Punjabi film. The film is famous because the special appearence given by Amitabh Bachchan. 1979 was a big year. In this year movies like Guru Manio Granth, Jatt Punjabi, Kunwara Mama, Sukhi Pariwar, Til Til Dalekha released. Guru Manio Granth was a religious film and an instant hit. Jatt Punjabi had a big cast + special appearence by Manoj Kumar was a hit. Til Til Da Lekha was an hit. It won Punjab State Govt. award for Best Story Writer and Second Best feature film 1979. The first-ever mystery film released. The film was Wangaar (The Challenge). It failed to become a hit.
The 80s
In 1980, the only Punjabi film to have achieved the national award was released. That film was Chann Pardesee. It starred Raj Babbar, Rama Vij, Amrish Puri, Om Puri and Kulbhusun Kharbanda Another film Fauji Chacha was also an hit. 1981 saw only 1 hit: Balbiro Bhabhi. This film has Veerendra in the lead role. This is the first role of Veerendra that was really appreciated. 1982 saw 2 major releases: Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da and Sarpanch. Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da was a religious film which was a hit because of the songs and the acting. This film estabilished Gurdas Mann as a star. Sarpanch once again was an hit-performance given by Veerendra. In 1983 many movies released. But Putt Jattan De was the biggest hit of them. The movie was one of the first multi-starrers and had good songs. The film was an superhit. 1984 saw another hit from Veerendra in the form of Yaari Jatt Di. This film was the first one to be shot more than 50% in U.K.. Mamla Garbar Hai again was a hit given by Gurdas Mann. The film's songs where especially loved. 1985 saw two hit films. One was Mohammad Sadiq's Guddo. The other was Veerendra's Vairi. 1986 saw 1 major hit in the form of Long Da Lishkara, this one stars Raj Babbar, Gurdas Mann, Om Puri and Nina Deol. In 1987 two major hits from Veerendra where given: Patola and Jor Jatt Da. Punjab was shaken with the sudden assassination of Veerendra during the filming of Jatt Tey Zameen. The back-bone of Punjwood was dead. There was no real superstar more of Punjabi cinema. All other actors who gave hits in Punjabi Cinema where Bollywood actors from Punjabi descent. But Veerendra was a real superstar of Punjabi cinema. The death of Veerendra gave an opperunity to give side actors or villains like Gugu Gill & Yograj Singh to become heroes. 1988 saw nothing majors. In 1989 released critically acclaimed Marhi Da Diva. The film starred Raj Babbar, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljeet Singh, Parikshat Sahni and Deepti Naval.
The decline - The 90s
1990 saw 2 major releases. Qurbani Jatt Di (Gugu Gill, Yograj Singh, Gurdas Mann, Dharmendra, Raj Babbar & Priti Sapru) and Pratigya (Gugu Gill, Gurdas Mann, Priti Sapru & Dara Singh. Whilst the former one was a hit because of the star power the second one wasnt a majot succes despite the top-notch performances. This is Gurdas Mann's one and only villainious role till date. 1991 saw incline in cinema. With the release of Jatt Jeona Morh (Gugu Gill), which was a superhit, Punjabi cinema was believed to be revived. But as in the following years 1992 and 1993 movies weren't that succesfull, Punjwood again was declared dead. Surely movies released but where movies with off repeated story lined and same violence. 1994 saw a hit in the form Kachehri which was a movie from Gurdas Mann. In 1995, the number of films released was 11 (with no hits), it plummeted to 7 in 1996 and touched a low of 5 in 1997. Till 1998 no major movie released. It was Main Ma Punjab Dee that again revived cinema. The next year already 2 Big movies released: Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and Mahaul Theekh Hai. Both where superhits and did very well bussines overseas as well.
The rise - The 00s
In 2000 the life of Udham Singh was portrayed by Raj Babbar in film Shaheed Uddham Singh which became a huge hit. From 2000 to 2003 no major movie released. In 2003 released Jee Ayan Nu. Singer-turned actor Harbhajan Mann acted and it was directed by choregrapher-turned director Manmohan Singh. The movie was made on a big budget (for Punjwood atleast) - 90 lakhs, as normal flicks just cost you around 20-50 lakhs. Then in 2004, Asa Nu Maan Watna Da released. Again singer-turned actor Harbhajan Mann acted in it and it was directed by choregrapher-turned director Manmohan Singh. It was a huge hit again. 2005, released movies like Jija Ji, Des Hoyaa Pardes, Main Tu Assi Tussi, Yaaran Naal Baharan, Nalaik etc. Des Hoya Pardes was a major hit. 2006 saw movies like Dil Apna Punjabi (Again Harbhajan-Manmohan pair), Ek Jind Ek Jaan and Warish Shah. Warish Shah was so appreciated that it is being considered to be sent to the oscars. 2007 saw movies like Rustam-e-Hind, Mitti Wajan Mardi (again Harbhajan-Manmohan pair). With many directors taking keen interest and some Punjwood films doing better than big budget Bollywood films at UK box office, it seems there is some hope left for Punjwood to be revived and be an effective part of Indian Cinema as Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi etc films are.
Punjwood Superstars
Veerendra - Acted in 25 movies in his 12 years career. Gave hits like Lambhardarni, Sarpanch, Yaari Jatt Di, Batwara etc. If there is ever made a list of top 50 Punjwood flicks atleast 10 will be Veerendra's. Altough not so goodlooking Veerendra was a superstar because of his directior abilities and the touching stories he wrote.
Yograj Singh - Acted in about 150 movies. Mainly villain but also hero in some movies. Is still remebered for his villainious role in Badla Jatti Da. Gugu Gill - Acted in about 30-40 films. Mainly villain or hero. Still remembered as the villain in Gabroo Punjab Da.
Gurdas Mann - Gave films like Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da, Mamla Garbar Hai, Kachehri, Desh Hoya Pardes, Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and his latest Waris Shah - Ishq Da Waris. The last film in which he acted was Warish Shah. The film was India's official entry 2006 to the 79th oscars.
Harbhajan Mann - Debuted in 2003. In 4 years has acted in 4 films with the same director, Manmohan Singh. All movies are hits. Those are: Jee Ayan Nu, Asa Nu Maan Watna Da, Dil Apna Punjabi & Mitti Wajaan Mardi.
Meher Mittal - Comedy king of Punjwood from 1975 - 1990.