Once upon a time in Punjab

Jasmine Singh

If you are a Punjabi movie fan then you would remember the 80s time where Punjabi films were all about Jatt, zameen and badla, and two artistes, Gugu Gill and Yograj Singh were the quintessential hero and villain of these films. Flash forward, Dulla Vailey, this week's Punjabi film release will transport you back in the 80s, with some new additions, like misplaced and out of sync background score, terrible dialogues, done to death lethargic acting and extremely painful direction.

Directed by Devi Sharma, Dulla Vailey, can easily be bracketed as a film that belongs two Gugu Gill and Yograj Singh and their animosity. So, one, you wouldn’t find any female at their homes (except for Gugu Gill's wife), two, even there is no virtual threat, nevertheless you see both of them surrounded by armed goons. God knows why!

Director Devi Sharma has broken the film in many parts for the audiences benefit, maybe because he wanted to justify every character in the film. So, he gives screen time to every artiste, irrespective of where he or she comes in the story, and irrespective of the story itself. Result, you can a painfully long Yograj Singh track, then you have an Avtar Gill track, and if this wasn’t enough, there is also a Mohd Sadiq track, Sarbjit Cheema track and of course Gurvar Cheema’s subtle track!

For the first part of the film, you will only see Yograj Singh, and hear a terrible background score. In fact, there is no relief from this score which you will hear throughout the film.

Even though singer-actor Sarbjit Cheema's son, Gurvar Cheema makes a debut in the film, you will only be able to catch glimpses on him in the first half, breaking of course in a single and dance sequence as soon as he meets his lady love.

At some point of time, if you compare the 80s Punjabi film starring Yograj and Gugu Gill, and Dulla Vailey, you would certainly back the old world. As mentioned before, this film is about many actors, their tracks, but essentially it is all about Yograj and Gugu Gill. While Gugu still makes an impact, the director, in the wake to make Yograj look and sound menacing, ends up making him a character with baritone and red blood shot eye. Yograj sounds and looks repetitive. Gurvar Cheema makes his short and sweet debut with the film. Although he looks handsome... if only this is the criteria for an actor, he would go a long way, else he needs to get down to serious business of learning to act. Avtar Gill, you wonder why and what for? Sarbjit Cheema makes an impressive on screen presence, with old and tired dialogues. 

Dulla Vailey is a film that brings back two legendary actors together, Gugu Gill and Yograj. This is all it has....what