Bollywood notes on Punjabi screen

Jasmine Singh

Actors from Punjabi film industry hogging limelight in Bollywood, Punjabi singers lending their voices and beats in Hindi film songs... this Chalo Bollywood movement is spreading far and wide in the Punjabi entertainment industry, with artistes giving a thumbs up to it. However, in this hullabaloo we haven’t been able to notice the hustle-bustle that has been going on in the Hindi music industry lately. After hearing Bollywood playback singer, Sunidhi Chauhan sing Mere Sahib for the Punjabi film Ardaas, one is reminded of the known names from the Hindi music industry whose voices can now be heard in Punjabi film songs, pretty frequently!

From Mera Dil tera hoya sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Mere Hatthan Diyan Lakiran by Alka Yagnik, Jaan To Pyareya by Tarranum Malik, Dil Naal Dil by Sonu Nigam, Sohniya Sajna by Ankit Tewari, Judaiyaan by Kailash Kher to big names like Mohit Chauhan, Atif Aslam, Neha Kakkar and Shafqat Amanat Ali, Javed Ali are now singing in Punjabi film projects, even when they are not well-versed with the language. Do they add to the USP of the film or not?

What’s in a name?

Bollywood, the word definitely carries a lot of weight, which is why when Punjabi filmmakers rope in well-established playback singers from Bollywood to sing for their films, it is seen as a matter of pride. So, is it the name that matters? “Indeed,” adds singer Amber Vashisht. “A Bollywood playback singer singing for a Punjabi film sounds big and interesting; this is the only purpose they serve.”

For no good reason

Punjabi music industry gives rise to almost one singer every day. This clearly means we do not have dearth of singers, which makes us question the need to take up Bollywood singers for Punjabi movies? “It is the same as Bollywood taking up Punjabi singers for their films…to add that extra tadka,” shares filmmaker Jasjeet Gill. At the same time, I also see how roping in big names from Bollywood playback raises the status of a Punjabi film project.”

May the best singer win

Singers back home do not mind this so-called fad. “It’s like an experiment and so far it has been a successful one. But I don’t know whether Sunidhi or Arshdeep Kaur singing in a Punjabi film affects the film’s popularity in any way or not,” adds singer-actor Gurpreet Bhullar. As for Gurpreet the answer to this fad is, “may the best singer win, Bollywood or Punjabi,” he smiles.

jasmine@tribunemail.com