First ever Punjabi web series success gives boost to actors

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 27

With the ever expansion of ‘over the top’ (OTT) platforms, the Punjabi entertainment industry seems to have expanded as well. The success of first ever Punjabi web series, Sleepless Nights and later Yaar Jigree Kasooti Degree had got the audience a taste of Punjabi entertainment industry’s better half. While the OTT platforms is now host to a number of Punjabi web series and short films, it has also managed to give visibility to the actors from two tier and three tier cities, including Amritsar and connect with the audience instantly.

“With the content getting recognised and demand for regional content on OTT platforms, Punjabi web series and short films have made a successful debut. This in turn has opened a window of opportunity for talent from small towns of Punjab to be visible. It’s a good trend and seems like it will continue to grow,” said Gurbaz Singh, a theatre actor from city, who has starred in multiple Punjabi short films, including one of the episodes of Yaar Jigree Kasooti Degree. He says that the positive response to Punjabi content on OTT platforms have created demand for more. “Since, the shows and series are finite and young audience connects instantly with the subject based shows, it allows you to be more free as an actor,” Gurbaz said. Sleepless Nights had story based in Amritsar, Gangland in Motherland had fresh faces among noted names in Punjabi industry, including Japji Khaira, Nishawn Bhullar while upcoming projects including blacklist from the makers of Gangland…are already working with bunch of newcomers.

Until now, the Punjabi entertainment industry had only invested in theatrical releases, but towing the line, they have gone big with web content. “It’s time the good content will definitely get audience, no matter what the medium,” says Vrinda Sharma, another actor from city. “With new projects coming up and more producers investing in fresh faces for web content, the future seems promising,” she added.