We Are Like This Only!

“Unfortunately,Punjabis are not bothered about their heritage,art or culture. They are not interested in sponsoring projects. Heck,even speaking in Punjabi is considered desi! With such an attitude,how will we be able to deliver good cinema,” rues producer-director Manjeet Maan. Her point is to forget the trends. “Make your own film and be a trendsetter,” while the golden period of Punjabi cinema is still a far fetched dream,Maan has high hopes from this year’s first Punju film,Mitti.

A talk with Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Kamal Tewari,and he says he’s given up watching Punjabi cinema. “I used to watch them,and there used to be interesting stories earlier. But at present,it’s all about loud acting,loud deliveries and fake Punjabi romanticism. No one is looking for subtleties,method acting or new techniques. Come to think of it,it’s ironic how Punjabi themes click all over the world except for in its own regional language!” he reflects.

Yash Chopra has raised an empire selling sarson de khet. Imtiaz Ali made everyone fall in love with the Punjabi kudi called Geet. Gulzar stirred the deadest of souls with Maachis. Dibakar Bannerji instilled life in his works by zooming in on typical Punjabis in Delhi. Anees Bazmi re-crowned Singh as the true King. Chann Pardesi still haunt us. Ek Chadar Maili Si was an exemplary work of art. While B-Town heroes like Sunny Deol,Akshay Kumar,Ranbir Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan have made the turban a haute style statement,back home,actors prefer to make an appearance without the gear. “It’s unfortunate that we are not taking indicators from hits in Hindi cinema. We are still catering to NRIs who left 50 years back and want to see Punjab of that era. It’s not possible,you have to deliver the present times,” says Kamal,who feels that we need more films like Harbhajan Mann’s Heer Ranjha and Gurdas’s Waaris Shah to move ahead.

“What our cinema lacks is good stories,meaningful scripts which are entertaining and incorporate a message too,” feels Tera Mera Ki Rishta’s director,Navniat Singh. According to him,we are a young industry,and experimentation will take time. “We have to take one step at a time,beginning with commercial entertainers which brings young crowds to the cinema,” he says.

Last year did see a positive change in Punjabi cinema. From press conferences,websites,premieres to meet the cast,shootings and item songs,Punjabi cinema saw a spark of hope. “First,we have to make a benchmark with class and performance,” adds Singh. Exactly what producer-director-writer Vinta Nanda feels. “Look at Bengali or Malayali cinema. They are earthy and connected to roots. They tell the story of their people and that’s what Punjabi cinema needs to work on.”

For Mad Arts’ Savita Bhatti,Punjabis have to first get over the glamour-masala mix obsession,ingredients they think make a good film. “You can’t capitalise on NRI theme all the time. Nor can you treat films and audiences as commodities. What’s needed is stories that are your interpretations,something which you want,not what the people are looking for. Be original and it will work.” For sure.