‘Punjab 1984’ excels in Punjabi cinema
Neha SAini
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 26
“The motive behind ‘Punjab 1984’ is not commercial, but sensible cinema.” Film-maker Anurag Singh had shared the purpose behind making the film on his Amritsar visit last year. Now, that the film has won a national award for Best Punjabi Film, the efforts to re-invent the quality Punjabi cinema and ensure a promising future makes it quite special. Cinematically, the film successfully got the pain and turbulence during the darkest period of Punjab without coughing up controversy. It also sent the message across the skeptics of Punjabi cinema, that quality cinema has nothing to do with typecasting.
After ‘Nabbar’, ‘Punjab 1984’ became the second Punjabi film in recent times to bring laurels to the industry. The film was inspired by real life incidents and revolved around the story of a woman, played by Kirron Kher, who awaits the return of her son, played by Diljit Dosanjh, during militancy period in Punjab. The film’s director Anurag Singh hasn’t come forward and celebrated the win in media as he had reacted to the win by dedicating the film to all the mothers of Punjab who lost their sons. The film was shot in some parts of Bhikhiwind and featured several city based actors Arvinder Bhatti, Hardip Gill, Gurinder Makhana and others.
Hardeep Gill, actor and member of The Theatre Persons, who was part of the film says Punjab 1984 will be counted as one of the milestones in the industry. “It is definitely a moment to celebrate for the entire Punjabi film industry. People usually associate Punjabi films with slapstick comedy or physical comedy. But we also have a rich history, stories from our past that tell about our struggles and pain. To get to tell such stories and win appreciation for them spells a promising future for the quality of Punjabi cinema,” says Hardeep. The actor was also part of the film Nabbar that became the first Punjabi film to win a national award after Chan Pardesi.
Arvinder Bhatti, who played the role of a doctor in the film, says that the win is an encouragement for many Punjabi artistes and filmmakers who want to make real cinema. “Working with Anurag Singh and team was an amazing experience. He is a visionary, who dealt with the subject with the sensitivity it required. I hope more such laurels await Punjabi cinema.”
