PUNJABI ANTENNA
Star in the making
Randeep Wadehra

SHE is beautiful, talented and glamorous. The grooming at the famed Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting academy in Mumbai— where the likes of Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham have learnt their craft—has done wonders to her confidence. Pooja Tandon, who featured as ‘Eyecatcher’ in these columns a couple of years ago, is making her debut in a parallel role in Sat Sri Akal—a family drama laced with religion and mythology. Already flooded with offers from Hindi serial makers, Pooja has set her sights on Bollywood’s big screen. During an interaction she has given enough evidence of being star material.

The year 2007 has been disappointing even by the Punjabi entertainment industry’s modest standards. Most of the new channels that had cropped up in 2006 have vanished without a whimper. The established channels have been sticking to the song ‘n’ dance stuff. ‘Play safe’ appears to be their motto as they stick to conducting singing contests or selling airtime or music videos which are largely of indifferent quality. However, the PTC news channel has been a find of sorts with its off-beat (by the regional standards) programming and content. However, one channel cannot possibly stem the tide of mediocrity.

But why castigate television channels alone when the ‘resurgent’ Punjabi film industry, too, appears to be following the same old formula? Among the few films released during the year, Mitti Waajan Maardi is one of those that catch one’s attention but this one, too, is a continuation of the NRI formula perfected in the previous years. Nevertheless, one may look forward to the New Year with some hope. Although, movies like Lakh Pardesi Hoiye will continue with the tried and tested NRI theme—albeit with a variation—comedies and, to some extent, mythology will be making a comeback.

One gathers this from the film-shootings going on in the region. Sameep Kang and Kshitij Choudhry’s comedy Chakk De Phatte is slated to regale the cine-buffs. Its star-cast includes Mahi, Jaspal Bhatti, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and Jaswinder Bhalla. Then there is Santa Banta, the Vivek Shauk-Ghuggi starrer which has the potential for spawning sequels, a la Hollywood’s Laurel and Hardy series. Not to be left behind is Bhagwant Mann whose Baap Mauji Puttar Manmauji, too, is getting ready to hit the theatres next year.

Then there is Sat Sri Akal, a remake of sorts of the landmark flick Nanak Naam Jahaaz Hai. It has several unique attractions of its own, including its hero, Manpreet Singh. Moreover, the movie boasts of an impressive cast—Avtar Gill, Arun Bali, Dolly Minhas, Vivek Shauk and Nirmal Rishi. The shabads in the movie have been sung by such renowned singers as Jagjit Singh, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthi, Abhijit, Sadhna Sargam and Sunidhi Chauhan. So, is 2008 going to be better than 2007? Let us pray for it.

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