Harsh Vardhan
With a rich tapestry of culture, emotions, and a dash of Bollywood flair, Punjabi entertainment has carved its niche on the global stage. In this list, we not only have heartwarming tales with unmistakable Punjabi zest but also Punjabi stories that have had quite an impact. Whether you’re a fan of rib-tickling comedy or soul-stirring drama, this collection has something for everyone. Let’s celebrate the spirit of Punjab, one screen at a time.
11. Bhaji in Problem (2013)
‘Bhaji in Problem’ earns its reputation as a great Punjabi movie by ingeniously combining humor with social commentary. This film, directed by Smeep Kang, boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Gippy Grewal, Akshay Kumar, and Om Puri. The plot is a hilarious tale of a man leading a double life with two wives, resulting in loud chaos. Its ability to tickle funny bones while shedding light on societal norms and the consequences of deceit sets it apart. ‘Bhaji in Problem’ is a testament to Punjabi cinema’s knack for delivering laughter and thought-provoking insights in equal measure. You can stream the film here.
10. Honeymoon (2022)
Directed by Amarpreet G S Chabbra, ‘Honeymoon’ is an Indian Punjabi-language comedy movie that stars Jasmin Bhasin, Gippy Grewal, Nirmal Rishi, and Nasir Chinyoti. It revolves around a newly married Sikh husband and wife who are compelled to take their whole family to London on their honeymoon. This kicks off a series of funny situations as the whole family finds itself in a new and alien environment. To find out what issues they face and how they handle them, you can stream the film here.
9. Sardar Ka Grandson (2021)
‘Sardar Ka Grandson’ is an Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama starring Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Neena Gupta, John Abraham, and Aditi Rao Hydari. It centers on a guy named Amreek Singh who decides to fulfill his grandmother’s last wish of being reunited with her old home that now lies on the other side of the Indo-Pak border in Lahore, Pakistan. When a Pakistan visa is denied, Amreek, who runs a packers-and-movers company in Los Angeles, decides to bring her grandma’s house to her (in Amritsar, India) rather than take her to Pakistan. Whether this plan works, you can only find out by streaming the film right here.
8. Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)
An Indian Hindi-language adaptation of ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994), ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naga Chaitanya and Naga Chaitanya, and has been directed by Advait Chandan. It tells the life story of Laal Singh Chaddha, from when he was a kid to when he became an adult/husband who went on a cross-country run. Using Laal as the POV, the film also showcases different historical events on Indian soil, including the 1884 anti-Sikh riots and the Kargil War. While it received appreciation for being faithful to the original film, it tanked at the box office. You can stream it here.
7. Dunki (2023)
A technically speaking Punjabi movie because it centers on Punjabi characters and is partly set in Punjab, India, ‘Dunki’ is directed by Rajkumar Hirani of ‘Munna Bhai’ fame. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Anil Grover, Vikram Kochhar, and Boman Irani, the film showcases the Dunki route, aka “donkey flight” which is a real-world illegal immigration technique that still exists as a means for many people to move to America/Canada/England.
We follow Hardy Singh, Manu Randhawa, Buggu Lakhanpal, and Balli Kakkad, who decide to go to London and start taking English classes for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test. However, only Balli passes the test and leaves for London. After failing multiple times, Hardy, Manu, and Buggu take the donkey flight. The struggles and risks they undertake during the months-long arduous journey, including potentially fatal situations and whether they reach London, make for the rest of the dramedy. You can watch it here.
6. Wild Wild Punjab (2024)
A purely Punjabi movie, in essence, although the language is mostly Hindi, ‘Wild Wild Punjab’ is a Bollywood buddy comedy-drama directed by Simarpreet Singh. The film follows four best buddies, Khanna (Varun Sharma), Maan (Sunny Singh), Honey (Manjot Singh), and Gaurav (Jassie Gill), who set off on a cross-Punjab road trip to Khanna’s ex’s (Asheema Vardaan) wedding so that he can make his R-rated rant at her for leaving him. However, the objective of bringing Khanna his much-needed relief is delayed by a string of wild misadventures, from drug abuse to illegal emigration to gang war. Written by Luv Ranjan of ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ fame, ‘Wild Wild Punjab’ doesn’t add anything new to the genre but is wild enough to keep you glued to the screen. You can watch it here.
5. Soorma (2018)
This Hindi-language Punjabi movie is based on the life of former Indian hockey player Sandeep Singh (played by Diljit Dosanjh), who served as the captain of the Indian national hockey team from 2009 to 2010 during his national career that spans 13 years (2004–2012). The film focuses on the 2006 event when he was 20 and was accidentally shot while traveling via train to join the Indian team that was leaving for the World Cup taking place in Africa in two days. It almost paralyzed him, but he didn’t give up and recovered to represent India in the 2010 Men’s Hockey World Cup. His physical and emotional journey throughout this period is showcased nicely in the film. Alongside Dosanjh, the film also stars Taapsee Pannu, Angad Bedi, and Vijay Raaz. You can stream ‘Soorma’ here.
4. Jogi (2022)
‘Jogi,’ directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, showcases the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India. The riots resulted from the assassination of the then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October, 1984, by her personal bodyguards, who were Sikhs. The assassination itself was the repercussion of Gandhi’s decision to let the Indian Armed Forces inside the holy premises of the Golden Temple (holy site of Sikhism) in Amritsar (Punjab, India) and take action on Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his co-militants who had taken cover inside. While the militants were all killed, the destruction of the holy site due to the heavy fire by the military wasn’t taken lightly and sparked worldwide criticism and anger among the Sikhs. As a result, Gandhi was shot to death.
Now that you know the backdrop, let’s talk about the film. It is set in Trilokpuri (East Delhi) and shows a guy named Joginder Singh, aka Jogi, who desperately searches for a way to save his Sikh community while everyone around is bent on killing them. A personal film set against a horrifying national-level man-made catastrophe, ‘Jogi’ is a brutal and accurate representation of what happened during that time. You can stream the film here.
3. Kohrra (2023)
Netflix’s gripping Indian Punjabi-language series, ‘Kohrra,’ helmed by the brilliant Sudip Sharma, delves into a crime thriller that transcends traditional boundaries. In the plot, the mysterious death of a bridegroom just days before his wedding sets the stage for a riveting narrative. As turbulence engulfs their personal lives, two dedicated police officers are compelled to untangle this perplexing case, balancing the fine line between justice and their vulnerabilities. The show features stellar performances by Barun Sobti, Harleen Sethi, Suvinder Vicky, Saurav Khurana, Rachel Shelley, and Manish Chaudhary, all of whom breathe life into their characters, making ‘Kohrra‘ a compelling and unmissable watch. You can watch the series here.
2. CAT (2022)
In the intense Indian Punjabi crime thriller series ‘CAT,’ crafted by Balwinder Singh Janjua, Randeep Hooda takes the lead alongside a stellar cast, including Suvinder Vicky, Hasleen Kaur, and Geeta Aggarwal. The gripping plot follows Gurnam, a former CAT (Counter-terrorism and insurgency specialist) in Punjab during the 1990s. He rescues his brother Sunny from a drug peddling charge with the aid of cop Sehtab Singh.
Later, Sehtab recruits Gurnam as a spy to unearth the city’s drug-peddling network. However, Gurnam discovers a shocking truth – his parents’ killer, Baljit Singh Rajpuria, is in league with Sehtab. Fueled by rage and vengeance, Gurnam abandons his mission, seeking retribution for his parents’ murder. ‘CAT’ marks Randeep Hooda’s debut in a streaming series and stands as Netflix’s pioneering original in the Punjabi language. You can check out the show here.
1. Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)
This biographical musical drama is based on the life of famous Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila, who rose to fame during the 80s but tragically lost his life at age 27. He, along with his second wife Amarjot, was assassinated on March 8, 1988, by those who didn’t like his song songs and their vulgarity, which posed as shameful for his community. However, Chamkila would go down in history as the “Elvis of Punjab,” his songs making him the highest-selling Punjabi artist ever. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ stars singer/actor Diljit Dosanjh as the titular personality and Parineeti Chopra as Amarjot. You can watch it here.
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