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Jag Jeondeyan De Mele
Baljinder Singh Atwal
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This unique family film made with the latest film production
technologies in Canada by Baljit Singh Deo is scheduled for
worldwide release on 20 February and will surely set new
standards in Punjabi Cinema. |
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 Once
upon a time, a few anecdotes from here and there, feudal fights
between the Jat clans in rural Punjab, the indebtedness of farmers
to the village Baniya, accompanied with a worthless love story
between a long lost boy and girl, a la Bollywood comprised the prime
components of a Punjabi movie. Such films too were mainly shot in
studios during the black and white phase of Punjabi cinema. In all
these movies, the song and music was of some standard and some of
the songs are immortal. All this was during a time when the Punjabi
film makers had no budget to work with nor was the technique of film
making as advanced as it is today.
In 1969, the
Maheshwari Brothers, under the Kalpana Lok banner, made the first
full fledged, religious film in colour, under the title, Nanak Naam
Jahaz Hai. The Maheshwari Brothers, known heretofore for their Hindi
movie, Neelkamal, revolutionised the Punjabi film industry with
Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai. At the time of the making of this movie, the
budget of a Punjabi movie did not cross a few lakhs, but this movie
was made with an outlay of Rupees thirty five lakhs. Though the
distributors were initially scared to distribute the movie, but the
movie made a big mark at the box office, setting new records for a
Punjabi film.
Every single
actor and others associated with the movie had put in a lot of hard
work in the making of the movie. If you see the film again today,
one fill find excellence in each frame of the movie. The direction
and music of the movie is soul-satisfying even today. As a result,
the film became a benchmark for the film industry in the seventies
and early eighties.
Under the banner
of Dara Productions, many similar religion based movies like Nanak
Dukhiya Sabh Sansar, Sava Lakh Se Ek Ladaon and Man Jeete Jag Jeet
under the Bedi and Bakshi banner were made during this period. They
did run well, but none could match Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai in catching
the fascination of the people.
 Then
came the era of Chann Pardesi, which was a welcome change from the
degeneration in Punjabi cinema and which was well accepted by the
public. I would not like to vouch for any other movie, but I can say
for sure that there would hardly be anyone who likes Punjabi cinema,
but has not seen Chann Pardesi. Following this film, Laung da
Lishkara was also made. As soon as Putt Jattan De became successful,
a wide range of useless titles with the nomenclature of Jatt were
made but could not carry the day. This brought about the downfall
of Punjabi cinema as people were fed up with the third class fare
dished out by such movies.
Some time later,
Raj Babbar and Gurdas Mann ushered in another era of respect and
recognition for the Punjabi film industry. Films like Ucha Dar Baabe
Nanak Da, Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Buta Singh and Shaheed Udham Singh once
again won the hearts of the Punjabi speaking public and these films
did very well at the box office.
However the
producers of Punjabi films were still unwilling to venture. No one
seemed to be willing to invest to take upgrade the standard of the
Punjabi film industry to that of Bollywood, for the simple reason
that the market for Punjabi films was perceived to be very small and
financially unviable. This gridlock was broken by Cinematographer
Manmohan Singh, who was the cameraman for Chann Pardesi along with
writer Baldev Gill by producing Naseebo, Warris and Kalinga. Famous
Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann joined them in this effort for revival
of Punjabi cinema. The result of their joint effort was Jee Aaya
Nu, which completely changed the thinking that the market for
Punjabi cinema was small. In
India and
abroad, it surpassed the box office for Hindi cinema too. The budget
for Punjabi cinema jumped from thousands to lakhs to millions. As a
result, every year, a large number of Punjabi films are being
produced and marketed.
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To give Punjabi cinema its true place and make it on par with
Bollywood or even better, latest technologies and equipment have
been used by H & H Productions for their latest venture, Jag
Jeondeya De Mele. The wide variety of songs of the movie is sung
by famous singers Sukhwinder Singh, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,
Harbhajan Mann, Gursewak Mann, Sharya Goshal and Sonu Kakad. |
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This trend has
continued for the last five-six years. It is being felt that
something more needs to be done to enhance the image and prospects
of Punjabi cinema. The use of latest techniques, new stories and new
settings is being talked about. Like Hindi cinema, movies should be
made with the DI technique. Something dramatic and new may be added
to the songs and music of the films. It is quite ironical that
Punjabi songs and music clicks in the Hindi films but fails to do so
in Punjabi films.
To give Punjabi
cinema its true place and make it on par with Bollywood or even
better, latest technologies and equipment have been used by H & H
Productions for their latest venture, Jag Jeondeya De Mele. The wide
variety of songs of the movie is sung by famous singers Sukhwinder
Singh, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Harbhajan Mann, Gursewak Mann, Sharya
Goshal and Sonu Kakad.
It is the first
Punjabi movie made with DI technique and its theme is also different
from earlier Punjabi movies. The new team with England born and
Canada resident, Baljit Singh Deo, who sports the Sikhi Saroop and
is an expert in the field of Film, Video, Lighting, editing and
other latest film technologies is at the heart of this forthcoming
film. Baljit Singh Deo has written the story of the movie and has
also edited and directed the film. He has already pioneered popular
videos of famous artistes Harbhajan Mann, Jazzy B, Sukhshinder
Shinda, Amrinder Gill and Arif Lohar. He has also made a video for
Tsunami victims under the music direction of Oscar nominee A R
Rehman.
 The
screenplay of the movie has been written by Baldev Gill. Rural
Patiala
and
Vancouver
are the two main centres where the movie has been shot. Not only is
the storyline different, even star cast is unique. Apart from
Harbhajan Mann, the other actors are Tulip Joshi, Puneet Issar,
Sunita Dheer, Shawinder Mahl, Gurpreet Ghuggi and debutant Gulzar
Inder Singh Chahal.
Music Waves –the
producers of the film have already made a mark amongst the Punjabi
Diaspora in
Canada with
their family entertainment fare. They have also produced
entertainment stuff and also fare for advancement of the Punjabi
language. The radio station of Music Waves in Vancouver, Red FM
Vancouver is a popular radio network and their TV programme Des
Pardesh is also very popular and is a family programme watched by
all.
The writer of
this piece who has been the host, editor and director of this
programme for the last fifteen years and who has enjoyed the love
and affection of Sikh and Punjabi Canadians a lot, also plays a part
in the movie. Artistes from the Punjabi Heritage Theatre Society of
Alberta are also part of the movie, led by Paramjit Gill. Even the
members of Surrey India Arts Club have also displayed their art in
the movie.
This complete
film has entertainment, comedy, and suspense and is a film which can
be viewed by all family members as it upholds Punjabi culture and
ethos. The songs are already out on CDs, which has songs by Baabu
Singh Mann, with music by Sandesh Shadlian, Aman Hayer and Babul. To
view the details of the movie, log on to
www.jjdmthemovie.com
Baljinder
Singh Atwal hails from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
28 January 2009
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