Movies
Punjab’s cinema makes waves worldwide
MUMBAI: Punjab is not just about bhangra and beats anymore. At the FICCI Frames 2025, a lively panel explored how Punjabi cinema is evolving beyond comedy and song-and-dance routines into micro-dramas, socially rooted stories, and web series that resonate both at home and with the global diaspora.
Moderated by filmmaker Rohit Jugraj Chauhan, the session featured actors and creators like Manav Vij, Rajiv Thakur, Dheeraj Ratan, Rhea Arora, and Ujjwal Mahajan of Chaupal OTT. The panel delved into how streaming platforms and social media are giving Punjabi stories unprecedented reach.
Chaupal OTT co-founder Ujjwal Mahajan explained the digital revolution behind Punjabi storytelling. “Chaupal is not just a platform; it’s a digital chowpal. Wherever Punjabis are, they can reconnect with home through our content. Every three days we add a new movie, and the momentum is only increasing.” He emphasised the distinction between “Punjab-based content” and true “Punjabi content,” pointing to titles like Satpanchi that resonate with cultural roots.
Comedian-turned-actor Rajiv Thakur reflected on the diaspora’s influence and talent in Bollywood. “Punjabis have always contributed massively, whether in comedy, music, or film. Our language, our stories, our culture matter. There’s power in Punjabiyat,” he said, noting the balancing act actors face between Mumbai and Punjab audiences.
Screenwriter and director Dheeraj Ratan traced the evolution of Punjabi cinema. “There was a time when you had to go to Bombay to make films. Now high-standard storytelling has returned to Punjab. Our films are visually strong and culturally rooted, and the market is responding,” he explained. He urged creators to establish local infrastructure to unleash the region’s vast talent and tell stories the world can watch.
Manav Vij described how Punjabi cinema is reshaping itself for a global audience. “Cinema has its own language of empathy. We need pathways to run freely, to make films the way we want. Punjabi culture has a value that deserves to be seen and heard globally.”
Rhea Arora, who has been pivotal in developing Punjab’s AVGC and animation ecosystem, highlighted how local talent is being nurtured. “We’ve brought art from Punjab to Mumbai and back. Creative talents are thriving, and the industry is evolving thanks to associations and government support.”
The panel concluded with a clear takeaway: Punjabi cinema is no longer just regional flair. From micro-dramas to mainstream hits, the state is staking a claim on global storytelling, powered by culture, community, and creativity.
Hollywood
Who is Geeta Gandbhir? The director behind two separate Oscar-nominated films in one historic year
The Emmy-winning filmmaker makes history with dual documentary nominations at this year’s Oscars.
LOS ANGELES: If Hollywood loves a breakout moment, this year it belongs to Geeta Gandbhir. Long respected within documentary circles, Gandbhir has suddenly become a mainstream name after scoring two Oscar nominations in the same season, one for a feature and one for a short. It is a rare feat. It is historic. And it has prompted one big question: who exactly is the filmmaker behind this double triumph?
Before stepping into the director’s chair, Gandbhir built her reputation as a razor-sharp editor. That technical grounding shaped her storytelling style, which is precise, unsentimental and emotionally direct. Her early career included working alongside Spike Lee, an apprenticeship that sharpened both her political lens and cinematic instincts.
Over the years, she accumulated multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody, quietly becoming one of the most respected nonfiction voices in American television.
Her feature-length nominee, The Perfect Neighbor, released on Netflix, investigates the fatal shooting of Ajike Owens through stark police body-cam footage. The film strips away dramatic embellishment and instead relies on unfiltered visual evidence to confront viewers with uncomfortable truths.
At the same time, her short film The Devil Is Busy, streaming on HBO Max, offers an intimate, ground-level look inside an abortion clinic in Atlanta. Co-directed with Christalyn Hampton, it trades scale for immediacy and delivers impact in under an hour.
The contrast between the two projects, one investigative and expansive, the other intimate and observational, highlights Gandbhir’s range. Yet both share a common thread, which is a focus on lived reality rather than spectacle.
Documentary filmmaking is often seen as awards adjacent and respected but rarely spotlighted. Gandbhir’s dual nomination changes that narrative. It positions her not just as a contender, but as a defining nonfiction voice of her generation.
Whether she takes home one statuette or two, the achievement itself has already reshaped the Oscar conversation and cemented her place in film history.
