Film/Stage
A Renaissance in Punjabi Cinema
by ALKESH SHARMA
Punjabi cinema is finally coming into its own with bigger budgets and larger audiences, says noted Punjabi filmmaker Manmohan Singh. But he feels the industry is still in the stage of infancy and has a long way to go to widen its reach.
"We can call this the renaissance period of Punjabi cinema. Everything is getting rejuvenated here. People have also started taking Punjabi cinema more seriously," said Manmohan Singh.
The films have become more cosmopolitan in their approach as they are also catering to the demands of the Punjabi diaspora.
Manmohan Singh is credited with turning the fortunes of Punjabi cinema by churning out five big hits - Jee Aayan Nu, Asaa(n) Nu Maan Watna Da, Yaaran Naal Baharaan, Dil Apna Punjabi and Mitti Waajan Mardi in the last five years.
His next project, Mera Pind - My Home is slated to release in mid September and it stars Harbhajan Singh Mann and former cricketer-anchor Navjot Singh Sidhu.
"Earlier Bollywood stars did Punjabi movies in their free time or just as a pastime. But today we have talented actors like Harbhajan Singh Mann, who have made Punjabi movies their priority and are working hard to the support the industry," said Manmohan.
"Earlier, when we used to travel abroad by air there were options of seeing Bollywood, Hollywood and South Indian movies in the aircraft. But now you can easily find Punjabi movies in the list also. When we go abroad, people enthusiastically ask us about the forthcoming Punjabi movies," he said.
Harbhajan agrees with Manmohan. "I consider this the golden phase of Punjabi movies. The budget has also soared from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions and filmmakers are using the best techniques available.
"Today we are releasing Punjabi movies in five-six countries other than India. But our aim is to increase its spectrum by releasing them in 40-50 countries in the coming days."
Harbhajan teamed up with Manmohan in 2000 to revive the ailing Punjabi film industry. He has given four Punjabi blockbusters with Manmohan and is waiting for their next venture, Mera Pind.
Manmohan Singh said it hurts when other filmmakers lampoon Sikhs in their movies."We wanted to break this myth and portray the essence of true Sikhism that has proved its mettle all over the world," he said.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, who makes his debut in Punjabi films with Mera Pind, said: "Movies like Singh is Kinng where the main protagonist is a Sikh guy will certainly boost their image on the big screen. Now it is the time of Punjabis and Punjabi cinema to rule this world."
[Courtesy: Hindustan Times]
July 25, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Kanwarjeet Singh (Franklin Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.), July 25, 2010, 10:50 AM.
Oh, yeah - we see the renaissance! As if the Hindi film industry was not enough to degrade and downplay the Sikh identity, now we have the Punjabi film industry to do their work. This is how you dilute the Sikh identity - you make a movie where a Sikh is shown intermittently wearing a turban and with cut hair - then you add loads of entertainment and a story to it - then market it to the masses. When the young and innocent get influenced by the movies, they model the Sikh identity around their movie star.
2: Sukhdev Singh Shergill (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), July 26, 2010, 5:51 AM.
My message to filmmaker Manmohan Singh is: if he is indeed hurt by the act of Sikhs being lampooned in Hindi films, then he should save the Sikhs from being disgraced as Punjabis in Punjabi films. Our quom is Sikh and not Punjabi and our dharam is Sikhi. Punjabi at best would only denote the citizenship of the people of Punjab. We all remember how in the 1966 Punjabi Suba census, the local Hindus conveniently abandoned their mother-tongue, Punjabi, and declared themselves as Hindi-speaking Hindustanis. Today's Punjab was demarcated based on Sikh population, not Punjabi population! There were no Punjabis, then only Sikhs and the so-called Hindustanis. The British had rightly identified us as Sikhs from the day they ruled Punjab. As soon as the British left, Hindu ruling India have tried to decimate the Sikhs. Pritam Singh Gill, a retired Principal of Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, wrote of "the Hindu conspiracy to destroy Sikhs; kill the language, kill the culture, kill the community." The attack was instituted, firstly, by not recognizing Sikhism as a separate religion in the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India only recognises Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, hence the tricolours in India's national flag represent these three religions only. Secondly, by obliterating their distinct and separate Sikh identity by spearheading propaganda that we are Punjabis instead of Sikhs through the media. Thirdly, by halting the propagation of the Punjabi language. Today, the Hindi film industry is continuing the same effort. RSS doesn't need to do much when there are Akali Dal and BJP stalwarts like Parkash Singh Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu. This havan-performing duo will sell their souls for votes from the Hindus. Reducing the Sikh identity into ashes and profiling the Sikhs as Punjabi would be easy for them. No guilt will be felt. If this Punjabi (language) cinema's coming into prominence would only further condemn us as Punjabis, then we would be better off without such renaissance! We had enough of Sunny Deol shouting jaikara at the top of his voice and keep referring to himself as Punjabi in the entire film. You know which film I am referring to. Does every citizen of Punjab let off jaikaras or only the Sikhs do that? The U.K. Bhangra music industry came into prominence but did not do justice to the Sikhs and continue to dilute their identity into being Punjabis. Lyrics like 'Sheran di quam Punjabi' is totally rubbish when references are made to 'Chiriyo se Baaj Laraa-oon' and various Sikh martyrs. Lyrics like 'Jithe jaan Punjabi, Bhangra janda naal' is ridiculous when we all know it should be 'Jithe jaan Sikh, Bhangra janda naal'. Not too long ago, Muslim and Hindu clergies of the Punjab considered dancing as a lecherous activity. Some had the courage to sing lyrics like 'Putt Sardaaran Dey' but usually fail to impress that Sardars refers to the Sikhs. A 17 year-old relative of mine was listening to a UK Punjabi Bhangra song with the references above and I asked her who are these Sardars being mentioned in the song. She promptly replied: 'Punjabis!' As a first step, a true Sikh like Manmohan Singh perhaps should spell Harbhajan Singh Maan and Navjot Singh Sidhu as such and not as Harbhajan Maan and Navjot Sidhu respectively, in his films. I'm sure there is enough space for that. Anybody who is embarrassed to be a Sikh should shy away from the Punjabi music and film industries. Sikhs are the only known guardian of the Punjabi language. Both Harbhajan Singh Maan and Navjot Singh Sidhu had so far portrayed themselves as the champions of the Punjabi race on all the films they had acted. An imaginary race that only exists in Akali Dal and BJP politics.
3: Amandeep Singh (Chennai, India), July 26, 2010, 1:55 PM.
I second what S.Sukhdev Singh has said above. No one speaks Punjabi in Punjab these days. All are speaking Hindi. You should come to Chennai and see the way people speak their mother tongue, Tamil. But we Sikhs have no respect for our mother tongue, Punjabi. I am saddened when I see young Sikh children speaking in Hindi to their parents. Forget about reading and writing Gurmukhi, today's kids can't even speak fluent Punjabi. Coming to Punjabi movies: Did someone say renaissance? This is a big joke. All movies being made are stupid. There is hardly a saabat soorat Sikh in these movies. If there was one good Punjabi movie made, it was 'Sat Sri Akaal'. That is what a Punjabi movie should be like. In all the Harbhajan Singh Mann movies, his father will be a saabat soorat Sikh and he will be a clean-shaven mona. WHY? Can't we have a Sikh playing the main role just like in 'Sat Sri Akaal'?
4: Zorawar Singh (Richmond Hill, New York, U.S.A. ), July 26, 2010, 2:18 PM.
I have to agree with Sukhdev Veer ji - whatever is mentioned I feel the same way too. In fact, many Sikh youths have abandoned their identity because of the Punjabi culture portrayed in the media. For example, most Punjabi movies or music videos have actors or singers who are hair cut and clean shaven which is what the Sikh youth end up following as their role models.
5: N. Singh (Canada), July 26, 2010, 3:42 PM.
Sukhdev Singh ji: Well said! I totally agree. One of the arguments that was presented regarding the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey (British Columbia, Canada) is that Vaisakhi is celebrated by all Punjabis including Hindus and Muslims, and therefore the floats should not have pictures of Sikh martyrs. Yes, Vaisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated by all, but when it is held on a certain day, when the Guru Granth Sahib is present and the floats are all sponsored by the gurdwaras, then Vaisakhi is a Sikh festival in celebration of the birth of the Khalsa. Let the so-called Punjabis hold their own 'Vaisakhi' celebrations, or better still, move to Alberta, and see who turns up!
6: K. Singh (Boston, MA, U.S.A.), July 26, 2010, 5:51 PM.
If you're saying that only Sikhs do Bhangra, I think a while ago there was a discussion about the difference between religion and culture. Bhangra is a Punjabi culture thing, not exclusively a Sikh thing ... [Editor: With respect to the rest of your comment - now removed - the Manmohan Singh referred to in the article is the filmmaker of that name, not the PM of India.]
7: S.S.N. (Georgia, U.S.A.), July 26, 2010, 8:57 PM.
It would be interesting to know if the comments made here are ever seen by the concerned individuals directors/ producers in this case. Also, dear commentators, I often feel illuminated by your comments; however, ultimately these are all comments. They amount (If I can say for myself) for nothing, if we are not effecting change; we are just discussing change (we can argue its potency but I believe more in action). What I am trying to say is: Let's form a group (action group) or something on a similar scale. The mechanism can allow people like you and me - with ideas - to walk the talk. Anyone?
8: K.D.S. (India), July 27, 2010, 6:54 AM.
Punjabi cinema is even worse than Hindi cinema. A majority of Punjabi movies revolve around jutts (farmers and country bumpkins) and not Sikhs. Turbaned Sikhs are only shown as comedians. The Hindi film industry has produced films like 'Border' and 'Rocket Singh' where Sikhs are portrayed very positively. I have yet to see one Punjabi movie where they will show a Sardar as hero.
9: Sukhdev Singh Shergill (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), July 28, 2010, 4:45 AM.
K. Singh ji, If Bhangra is Punjabi culture, why is it not seen anywhere in West Punjab (Pakistan)? It exists in East Punjab because the Sikhs are there. Apart from Bhangra, the Sikhs have a few other dances. One that I can remember is the Jhumri. A person's or community's culture is first and foremost shaped by the religion it professes, not language. This is what I learned during my sociology classes at the varsity. A culture of a community is a subset of its religion. In other words, a person's culture emanates from his religion. Religion set limits to the customs, beliefs, rituals and activities of a community. The customs, beliefs, rituals and activities of the Sikh community is obviously different from the Hindu and Muslim communities of Punjab. Sikhism did not inhibit the Sikhs from dancing by denouncing it as a lecherous activity, as did some of the other communities.
10: Jasvir Singh Hothi (California, U.S.A.), September 27, 2010, 1:10 PM.
I am totally agree with most of the comments on this issue, but I also believe that something is better than nothing. Manmohan Singh and Harbhajan Singh Mann are at least trying to stand above the former mediocrity of our movies. So let's try to figure out ways to somehow do better, instead of pulling thee fellows down.