Over the last 3/4 years the renaissance of Punjabi cinema has taken even the most hardcore of Punjabi film lovers by surprise, audiences in theaters globally are hitting the same figures as other Bollywood films, and more films are now being made, with a whole host of films in the pipeline.
So it came as no major surprise when the Punjab Government announced on Thursday that it would be organising a film festival, no dates though have been released or confirmed.
Sukhbir Singh Badal (Deputy chief minister), who was present at the premiere of Punjabi film “Ajj de Ranjhe” on Thursday, told the gathered media that the Punjab government is all set to organise the Punjabi Film Festival, and that it would be an annual event, akin to the International Film Festival of India, the purpose of the festival would be to give recognition to outstanding and offbeat Punjabi movies.
Badal commented that “Punjabi cinema had evolved itself in recent years, and it was giving stiff competition to Bollywood films in quality and entertainment.”
He added “The Punjab government was fully conscious of the need to promote Punjabi cinema and this festival would give that boost to Punjabi movies.”
“Ajj De Ranjhe”, directed by Manmohan Singh, known cinematographer in Bollywood who has directed hit films in Punjabi, is being released in India, Pakistan and several other countries.