Review of Angrej (2015) by Jasrick J — 06 Aug 2015

I can literally count the number of actual good well made punjabi movies I have seen on one hand, to be frank there are not that many. But with Angrej I can add a new film to list of not only good punjabi films, but this films is a great one. All the hype, and hulla I heard about the film was very true.

In punjabi there is a saying that "mitti di kushbhoo ageya" Angrej is such a film, where the one gets that feeling, its a very rooted film. Its based in 1942 punjab before the partition, but the film doesn't have anything to do with the british or slavery at all. The film is rather a fresh take of that time, a hilarious one, and I can guarantee, that one will be left in splits when watching this film.The rustic villages, the clothes,the old sayings, the way people used to talk, the customs, are all on point, everything looks, and feels like the time of yore. One could call this film a landmark film in punjabi cinema.

The films story is a simple tale of a boy named Angrej who fell in love in Punjab before partition,when love was forbidden. Angrej soon finds out the girl he loves Madoo, likes someone else. He then after sometime time in sadness encounters Madoo at his sisters wedding, and with the help of another girl tries to win back his love Madoo. Does Madoo fall back in love him or does he move on is what form the rest of story. To know more rush to the theatres.

With a film like Angrej even though the story sounds very simple and cliched, it doesn't matter because the films screenplay is so engaging and strong. And even though the story sounds cliched its not because whatever, predictable solutions one thinks will resolve a problem in a regular film are not that same here, this is because having a story set in 1942 means solutions where not the same back then,the director has made sure the film keeps that 1942 aura while solving or creating a conflict in the film, and this where the films gets it unique novelty.

Acting wise Arminder Gill proves his mettle his good. Binnu Dhillion,Sardar Sohi, and Sargun Mehta also impress.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised with Angrej, the film was throughly enjoyable, it was a laugh riot, and also got me thinking maybe the old days were better. Life was more simple back then,people were more nicer, and there was this amazing culture we are sorely missing today. It was nice to see the time my grandparents and even parents grew up in. A landmark film in the punjabi film industry!

4/5* or 8/10.