[PUNJABI MOVIES] Yaariyan (2008)

Directed by : Deepak Grewal
Produced by: Pinky Basrao
Starring : Om Puri, Gurdas Mann, Gulshan Grover, Asrani, Bhumika Chawla
Music by: Onkar, Aadesh Shrivastava, Sachin Ahuja, Jaidev Kumar
Distributed by: Pinky Basrao Films
Release date(s): January 11, 2008
Country: Flag of India India
Language: Punjabi

Definitely made for the NRI audience, the movie ‘Yaariyan’ seems to do the trick that was desired for by the movie makers. Now, you cannot deny the fact that Punjabi songs sell no matter where you release them. Being a musical drama ‘Yaariyan’ definitely owes its success to its rocking Punjabi music. A major chunk of the NRIs worldwide are essentially Punjabis and this movie’s worldwide release wanted to impress this specific breed. If you take a look at the UK box office, you would definitely find the previous years major successes were all Punjabi movies.

Yaariyan’ is the story of any man who leaves his country, family and kin to search for success and fulfilling dreams. Produced under the banner of Pinky Basrao Films, this movie has been directed by Deepak Grewal, who has also written the story. The movie stars Gurdas Mann, Bhumika Chawla, Om Puri, Gulshan Grover, Okuku Wanyama, Raj Toora, Harjinder Singh with Farida Jalal and Asrani in special appearance.






Gurdas Mann plays Jassa Singh an essential Indian born and bred man, who seeks to fulfill his dreams. He travels far to fulfill his dreams and what happens in his journey makes it even worthwhile. What makes this movie sellable is the fact that the movie lets the lonely man who has gone to the West in search of his dreams relate to the protagonist. The journey may look romantic from the cover but can be as tricky and beguiling as possible. Everyman who has made a fortune in the West would vouch for the fact that at some point or the other they have left the companionship of hardwork and honesty. ‘Yaariyan’ builds on this guilt conscious Indian born righteous man, even though quite late but realizes what all he has left behind in the mad rush. In their wish to achieve success faster, most take short cuts or adopt unscrupulous means. It is their souls that awakens them and makes them see what has happened to them and how following dreams madly has left them completely changed and troubled. They are happy to narrate the so-called white fairy tales but are afraid to stumble upon the unwanted and black truths and the difficult choices they made to reach their destinations never comes to the surface.