Pleasure of pain

Jasmine Singh

My pain may be the reason for somebody’s laugh, the great man Charlie Chaplin once said, something that has been used beautifully and creatively used in the Punjabi film Channo Kamli Yaar di. Directed by Pankaj Batra, the film stars Neeru Bajwa, Binnu Dhillon, Karamjit Anmol, Rana Ranbir, Anita Devgan and Jassie Gill.

Who said you need a battery of star singers, a truckload of comedians and shaava shaava numbers to run a Punjabi film? Channo Kamli Yaar Di manages to strike a chord with just two main characters and countable other supporting cast. The film beautifully portrays the one-sided love of a person, and how far he can go in love. The director has done a neat job by using his two central characters, Neeru Bajwa and Binnu Dhillon, highlighting the unrequited relation without going overboard with it. The film has its storyline, script and dialogues written by Nareesh Kathooria, who has ensured that not a single sentence is exaggerated. Keeping the interest of the Punjabi audience alive, by showing just two people on screen largely when they are used to seeing a mela on screen, deserves a word of praise.

The film stretches in little parts, like towards the end, all the same, it still floats without obstruction! The director has nicely revealed his surprise element, Jassie Gill, and has also managed to build some mystery. However, it is not the director’s fault if you manage to crack it before the film ends!

The film belongs to Neeru Bajwa and Binnu Dhillon. It is for the first time that instead being a baby doll, an actress has played such a substantial part. As a pregnant woman, Neeru plays her role convincingly; with some more emotions, she would have been fantabulous! Binnu Dhillon has nailed his character, Taaji, from the word go. At one moment his character makes you smile, and at the other, you can feel his pain. This could be one of his best performances by far. And two people who supported them with their lively, yet well-measured dialogues are Rana Ranbir and Karamjit Anmol. Both the actors know when to stop their punch and when to drop it. Anita Devgan plays a lovely Punjabi mother. Jassie Gill, in the role of Jeet, looks stunning.

This time though you can't connect to his pain, which he feels for his pregnant wife! In these times though you can’t connect to his pain, which he feels for his pregnant wife! Channo Kamli Yaar Di has music that absolutely goes with the theme. If only the end of the film wasn’t a hasty affair, Channo would have walked away with five stars!

Channo Kamli Yaar Di 

Director: Pankaj Batra 

Star cast: Neeru Bajwa, Binnu Dhillon, Karamjit Anmol, Rana Ranbir, Anita Devgan and Jassie Gill.

Rating: ****

First-day-first show

A tribute to love

Channo Kamli Yaar Di

Featuring Neeru Bajwa, Binnu Dhillon, Karamjit Anmol and Rana Ranbir, Channo Kamli Yaar Di is an emotional drama. Here is what the audience has to say… 

Touching subject

It is a lovely film. There were scenes in the movie where I wished I had kept some tissues handy. 

— Gurjeet Kaur, B Tech student, Shaheed Udham Singh College

Good storyline

My friends and I loved the storyline. Neeru Bajwa has yet again proved her mettle by taking up such a role. 

— Karan Kumar, BA student, DAV College

— As told to Manika Ahuja