Punjabi movies have always remained a center of attraction amongst the people of Punjab. In the older times, people used to await movies curiously and when the movie used to begin in the theaters there used to be pin-drop silence.
Besides romantic comedies, if there’s a genre that Pollywood is famous for, it is period dramas. With movies like ‘Angrej’, ‘Punjab 1984’, ‘Rabb Da Radio’ and more, Punjabi filmmakers have carved their niche in the respective genre.
13 Most Loved Punjabi Period Films
Lahoriye
Cast – Amrinder Gill, Sargun Mehta, Yuvraj Hans, Nimrat Khaira, Sardar Sohi, Guggu Gill
Lahoriye shows the story and effects after partition of Punjab. The movie deals with modern India and how two people of different religions and countries fall in love with each other and come together by connecting their values of the same culture as Punjabis.
Angrej
Cast – Amrinder Gill, Ammy Virk, Sargun Mehta, Aditi Sharma, Binnu Dhillon
The romantic- comedy set in the pre-partition of Punjab was shot in the rural parts of Rajasthan and Punjab. The film Angrej represents the Punjab of 1940.
Bambukat
Cast – Ammy Virk, Binnu Dhillon, Simi Chahal
‘Bambukat’ in the film has been referred to as the motorcycle. The film shows the old Punjab of the 1960s. The story highlights the social stereotypes and biases based on money, skin colour and outer appearances.
Laung Laachi
Cast – Amberdeep Singh, Neeru Bajwa, Ammy Virk
The film chronicles the story of a married couple who decided to live as strangers under one roof, following the wife’s desire to fall in love before marriage. It is set on the post-partition of Punjab.
Punjab 1984
Cast – Diljit Dosanjh, Kirron Kher, Sonam Bajwa
The story then flashes back to 1984, a day before Operation Blue Star. The film is based on the 1984-86 Punjab insurgency’s impact on social life, notably it is a story of a mother and her missing son.
Rabb Da Radio
Cast – Simi Chahal, Tarsem Jassar, Mandy Takhar
The film is set in the Punjab of the 80s and 90s. The film revolves around family ties, love and unconditional faith on God. Rabb Da Radio takes us back to an era where lovers used to just see each other and decide that they’re going to be life partners.
Muklawa
Cast – Sonam Bajwa, Ammy Virk, Gurpreet Ghuggi
The film was set against the backdrop of the pre-partitioned era. It is based on the after the wedding custom when a newly-wed bride is taken back to her husband’s home for the first time.
Dhol Ratti
Cast – Pooja Thakur, Lakha Lakhwinder, Malkit Rauni
Another period film Dhol Ratti which shows Punjab of 1970’s. The theme of the movie encapsulates an emergency situation on the Punjab – Pakistan Border and how people live through it. The movie highlights the importance of family relations and moral values with an important message for today’s youth.
Paani Ch Madhaani
Cast – Gippy Grewal, Neeru Bajwa
The film is a period romantic comedy-drama set in the 1980s. It is the story of a group of Punjabi musicians who travel to London to make their mark. Not only this, they make shortcuts for gaining success.
Shava Ni Girdhari Lal
Cast – Gippy Grewal, Neeru Bajwa, Yami Gautam, Himanshi Khurana
The multi-starrer Punjabi film is full of comedy, love, seriousness and joy. The film is a period comedy and the plot is set in the 1940s. The story revolves around a golden hearted, Girdhari (Gippy) and his attempts to find true love.
Chaar Sahibzaade
Religious film Chaar Sahibzaade is based on the history and sacrifices of the sons of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh- Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh, Fateh Singh. The movie emerged as a major box office success, eventually becoming the highest grossing animated movie ever to have been produced in India.
The Black Prince
Cast – Satinder Sartaj, Amanda Root
The film ‘The Black Prince’ is an international historical drama. It tells the story of Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of Sikh Empire and the Punjab area. The story revolves around the young prince who reconciles himself with the two cultures of his Indian birth and British education.
Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe
Cast – Pavan Malhotra, Avrinder Kaur
This life is dedicated to you (God) is a Punjabi movie based on the life of Bhagat Puran Singh. The film is an important chapter in the history of post-partition Punjab.
Hence, period movies have been a window for us to see the culture and beauty of Punjab in the pre –independence era, the dark era of 1984 and the age old romance in those times as well. The beauty in these movies is the work done by the creative directors who take us back in time. So, if you have missed any of them, do watch it!
