Birthday of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji

Films
Sardaarji
biggest blockbuster
D
iljit Dosanjh has emerged
as the new super star of
Punjabi cinema. His latest film Sardaar
Ji, which also features Neeru Bajwa
and Manay Dakhar in key roles, has
turned out to be the biggest ever blockbuster
in Punjabi cinema. The film
raked in Rs 2.5 crore on the first day
breaking the record of Jatt and Juliet 2,
which had recorded opening day figure
of Rs 1.5 crore.
This Punjabi romantic comedy got
a superb start with more than 1000
shows a day across more than 250
screens in India and 150 screens
abroad. The box office collection kept
on rising Friday to Sunday. The film
collected 14.72 crore in the first weekend.
Sardaarji opened with a collection
of 2.5 crore on the opening day in
India, with Australia, New Zealand,
USA, Canada and the UK contributing
another Rs 1.5 crore. Saturday saw the
figure rising to 5.07 crore and Sunday
had a collection of Rs 5.63 crore.
These figures were mind-blowing for
a Punjabi film.
Even though the super success of
‘Sardaar Ji’ gives Punjabi Cinema its
biggest blockbuster till date, it still
brings along some serious worries if
BUREAU REPORT
Neeru Bajwa and Diljit Dosanjh in Punjabi blockbuster ‘Sardaarji’
one looks into the scenario with a (Anhe Ghore Da Daan and Chauthi
deeper understanding of the trend witnessed
in Punjabi film business over (Qissa) who do not live in Punjab have
Koot) and Geneva-based Anup Singh
the last decade.
brought forth a new narrative in Punjabi
cinema with strong and sensible
But the concern is much more critical
here because with the roaring success
of ‘Sardaar Ji’, where at one end
stories straight from the soil. Sadly,
posters of their films are seen more
the Punjabi film industry might be feeling
relieved with a quick revival in
prominently at international film festivals
than the numerous multiplexes
sight, at the other it actually gets stuck
that dot this region's landscape.
deeper into the same monotonous mess
(threatening the industry over the last
Maybe, someone needs to put them in
few years) since the latest hit is yet a bottle and bring them straight to Punjab
to make more films. Perhaps then,
again ‘A comedy’.
The only grace is that some directors
like Pune-based Gurvinder Singh jabi cinema will be
the ghosts haunting mainstream Pun-
exorcised.
38 Punjab Advance October 2015