Punjabi cinema is extremely cultural as it not only celebrates Punjabi heritage and traditions of family and hard work but also reinforces them. An abundance of song and dance is essential in a Punjabi film, much like traditional Bollywood films, and is used to show a sense of utopia instead of the more flashy scenes in Bollywood. Punjabi films are unique because of their location in India which is a main focus in the majority of their films, showing a more rural and natural version of India. Known for its authentic portrayals of characters looks and personalities, Punjabi cinema is growing in India as well as in itself, as the industry grows from a regional to transnational base.
Check out CulturalPulse’s shortlist of the best Punjabi films over the past 70 years below.