Punjabi network grows

Jasmine Singh 

So you missed a Punjabi film in the theatre and you’ve already broken your chord with the cable? Fret not; Punjabi films are now available on digital platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix India, JioCinema and YouTube, where movie buffs can enjoy through a simple subscription.

A relatively new platform, producers and directors see it growing with time; in fact, they assure that new releases will be immediately available on all digital platforms soon!

Not digitally sound 

Punjabi audience is still not exposed to watching films on digital platforms; at the most they can watch Nikka Zaildar 2 or Sikander on YouTube, but would think twice about subscribing to other digital platforms. Producer Gunbir Sidhu of White Hill Films and Music sees it as new exposure. “I probably have all my films available on Netflix India, right from Sardaarji 2, Teshan to many more on Amazon Prime, which again I feel is a new platform for many Punjabi producers and distributors. Till now, we were making it available on YouTube and would get revenue from the number of views, but now other digital platforms have also opened up,” shares Gunbir.

Subscribe to

With a given subscription, now you can watch films (not relatively new though) on Amazon Prime and Netflix. Films like Jatt & Juliet, Sardaarji, Carry On Jatta, Best Of Luck and Singh Vs Kaur are available. Baljinder Mahant, managing director, TOB Gang, feels Amazon and Netflix need to build up a Punjabi film catalogue first to attract viewers. “They have a good South-Indian and Bollywood catalogue, but they still have to focus on North India,” he says.

In a recent development, Uniglobe Entertainment is releasing The Black Prince digitally around Baisakhi. The movie will be available in English, Hindi and Punjabi on Amazon, ITunes, Google Play, Fandango Now, Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox.

Not so old

Since the catalogue for Punjabi films is not very upbeat, old films like Marhi Da Deeva or Maa Da Dharminder are available or those released an year or two ago - Main Tera 22 Tu Mera 22, Kacche Dhaagey, Saadey CM Saab, Jatts In Golmaal, Haani and Virsa. “Netflix is a very urban concept, I doubt if the Punjabi audience knows about it. Amazon, JioCinema and YouTube films is still okay, but the problem with these digital platforms is that they are not offering very good choices in Punjabi films,” says film promoter Harsimran Singh. “Old films; not many would want to pay to watch!” 

jasmine@tribunemail.com