Well,There is an extra spicy flavor to the Punjabi movie industry, don’t you think? Well, Punjabi movies are a complete package when it comes to entertainment.
Laced with brilliant story lines, covering multiple aspects of the Punjabi culture and society and packed with some stellar performances, Punjabi cinema is reaching new heights every day.
However, there are a few films that deserve a special mention for being among the crown jewels of the Punjabi film industry.
Let us have a look at the Must watching Punjabi movies of all time:
Jatt and Juliet
- Year of release: 2012
- Director: Anurag Singh
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, Jaswinder Bhalla, Upasna Singh
- IMDb User Rating: 7.5 stars
If you are someone who is into the fiery, feisty rom-com with a Punjabi twist, you are sure to love Jatt and Juliet. The story talks about two young individuals, Fateh Singh and Pooja.
The two are complete opposites when it comes to habits, background and likes. Yet, when both reach Canada to pursue their dreams, destiny brings them together.
There are sparks and there is romance in this entertaining filmy ride. Romance, comedy, pain and happiness, this movie has everything a package blockbuster needs. No wonder, ‘Jatt and Juliet’ tops our list of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time.
Carry on Jatta
Watch Carry on Jatta trailer here
- Year of release: 2012
- Director: Smeep Kang
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Mahie Gill, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Binnu Dhillon
- IMDb User Rating: 8.3 stars
Carry on Jatta is one hilarious ride, in full-on Punjabi style. Jass finds himself head over heels in love with Mahie. But she has already made up her mind on marrying only an orphan.
Jass now has to put up a facade, project himself as someone without any family and near ones. All of his lies and efforts are with a good intention though, that is, to be able to win Mahie’s heart.
What happens next is a roller coaster ride of humorous situations and goof-ups. While Jass continuously gets caught up in awkward situations, he needs to constantly lie to make Mahie believe him. The movie is a widely loved and acclaimed one among Punjabi movies of all time.
Carry on Jatta 2
Watch Carry on Jatta 2 trailer here
- Year of release: 2018
- Director: Smeep Kang
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Sonam Bajwa, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Binnu Dhillon
- IMDb User Rating: 6.9 stars
A roller coaster of a comic ride, Carry on Jatta 2 was widely loved by Punjabi audiences on its release. Packed with humor, romance and great Punjabi music, this movie is a must-watch if you want to enjoy the richness of Punjabi style. It is highly appreciated and counted as one of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time.
Ardaas
- Year of release: 2016
- Director: Gippy Grewal
- Stars: Gurpreet Ghuggi, Ammy Virk, Rana Ranbir, Gippy Grewal
- IMDb User Rating: 8.4 stars
Punjab is, among other things, a land of villages. The people of Punjab are very rooted and “desi” in the truest sense. Ardaas, a brilliant movie by Gippy Grewal, touches on this rural aspect of Punjab.
The life of the villager, his hardships, worries and woes have been beautifully depicted in this popular movie. The movie is packed with some stellar performances, some soul-touching music and, certainly, a great story line.
Punjab 1984
Watch Punjab 1984 trailer here
- Year of release: 2014
- Director: Anurag Singh
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Kirron Kher, Pavan Malhotra, Sonam Bajwa
- IMDb User Rating: 8.5 stars
None can forget the doomed year of 1984, and the havoc it brought for people of the Sikh community. The movie, Punjab 1984, by Anurag Singh, is a deep plunge in the same historical times.
It talks about the relationship between a mother and her son. The latter has been misjudged and labelled a terrorist. His mother, hence, embarks on a journey to look for her long-missing son and ensure justice for him.
This touching movie has been widely applauded by audiences of all backgrounds. The touching tale is sure to strike a chord with you too. No wonder, the movie has such high ratings and critic reviews. It is considered one of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time.
Angrej
- Year of release: 2015
- Director: Simerjit Singh
- Stars: Amrinder Gill, Sargun Mehta, Aditi Sharma, Ammy Virk
- IMDb User Rating: 8.5 stars
If you are someone who is into budding romances, you are bound to fall in love with this movie. Angrej, directed by Simerjit Singh, talks of rural Punjab, replete with simple lives and people.
A young Punjabi lad is struggling to find a soulmate for himself. There is a lot of love, budding romance and moments that put a smile to your face. One of the top Punjabi movies of all time, Angrej is a must-watch for people of all ages and tastes.
Sajjan Singh Rangroot
Watch Sajjan Singh Rangroot trailer here
- Year of release: 2018
- Director: Pankaj Batra
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Yograj Singh, Sunanda Sharma, Jagjeet Sandhu
- IMDb User Rating: 7.5 stars
Another dive into the days gone by, Sajjan Singh Rangroot talks about a Sikh man serving in the British army. During the First World War, he is deputed to Europe to take part in the bloodshed.
What ensues is a grim tale of trouble, homesickness, war and sorrow. The movie is a must-watch if you are someone who is interested in history.
What is even more fascinating is that this is a true story. The movie was received well on the box office and the audiences loved the stellar performances, especially that by Diljit Dosanjh.
No wonder, the movie is quite highly ranked and has received great critic reviews, putting it into the list of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time.
Nikka Zaildar
Watch Nikka Zaildar trailer here
- Year of release: 2016
- Director: Simerjit Singh
- Stars: Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Karamjit Anmol, Nirmal Rishi
- IMDb User Rating: 7.5 stars
Another romantic comedy set in the lovely lands of rural Punjab; Nikka Zaildar is a very popular Punjabi movie. Considered one of the most entertaining watches, the movie stars Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa have put up stellar performances.
The movie has been titled a laugh riot by viewers worldwide and is counted among the top Punjabi movies of all time. The protagonist of the movie tries his best to coax his reluctant fellow student to marry him.
The way things turn out to be, however, makes everything much more complicated and difficult for him, even more than he could have imagined.
Ambarsariya
Watch Ambarsariya trailer here
- Year of release: 2016
- Director: Simerjit Singh
- Stars: Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Karamjit Anmol, Nirmal Rishi
- IMDb User Rating: 7.1/10
One of the top Punjabi movies of all time, Ambarsariya is a complete package. It is a laughter riot and an action extravaganza at the same time. The story follows the life of a secret agent, who tries to pose as an insurance salesman.
While he has to chase and find out the whereabouts of an assassin, he is also forced to juggle three different women in the process of concealing his real identity.
Jatt and Juliet 2
Watch Jatt and Juliet 2 trailer here
- Year of release: 2013
- Director: Anurag Singh
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, Jaswinder Bhalla, Vijay Tandon
- IMDb User Rating: 7.4 stars
After a blockbuster prequel, Jatt and Juliet 2 arrived at the box office with a bang.
The story follows two Punjab Police officers who land up in Canada on a top-secret mission. However, things do not go as planned and the two find themselves caught in tricky situations one after another.
The film is, without any doubt, one of the top Punjabi movies of all time, and a super entertaining one at that!
Lahoriye
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Amberdeep Singh
- Stars: Amrinder Gill, Sargun Mehta, Guggu Gill, Yuvraj Hans
- IMDb User Rating: 7.8 stars
Love knows no bounds. This famous saying is brought to life in this movie, Lahoriye, by Amberdeep Singh. The movie revolves around a love story across borders and is a perfect package replete with emotion, love, pain and hardships.
Sardarji
- Year of release: 2015
- Director: Rohit Jugraj
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, Mandy Takhar, Jaswinder B
- IMDb User Rating: 6.4 stars
One of the most unique premises you will come across in Punjab cinema, Sardarji is the love story of a ghost-hunter! Starring Diljit Dosanjh, the film is about a ghost hunter who is fearless, brave and outgoing.
He traps ghosts and spirits into glass bottles and travels to multiple locations for the same. However, things take a crazy turn, and he finds himself falling head over heels in love with a ghost.
Manje Bistre
Watch Manje Bistre trailer here
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Baljit Singh Deo
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Sonam Bajwa, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Karamjeet A
- IMDb User Rating: 6.6 stars
This cinematic drama is a perfect delight to watch on a cozy weekend. The story revolves around a man who tries to woo a woman into marrying him during the preparations of his sister’s wedding. The twist is that the woman he loves is to be married to someone else, and the marriage has already been fixed by her family.
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Watch Jihne Mera Dil Luteya trailer here
- Year of release: 2011
- Director: Mandeep Kumar
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Neeru Bajwa, Diljit Dosanjh, Jaswinder B
- IMDb User Rating: 7.3 stars
At the Patiala University, life is about carefree mischief and daring events for Yuvraj and Gurnoor. While the former is a handsome, carefree hunk, the second is more of a tough rebel.
Their life takes a turn with the entry of Noor, a beautiful young woman, who makes both men fall head over heels in love with her. What ensues is a laughter riot of drama and endless fun.
Jindua
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Navaniat Singh
- Stars: Jimmy Shergill, Neeru Bajwa, Sargun Mehta, Harjap Singh, Matt Blais
- IMDb User Rating: 6.6 stars
The movie is set in Calgary, a city in Canada, where a young Indian man plans to settle down and gain citizenship. For this purpose, he attempts to marry a woman settled there, who wishes to be a Rockstar. However, he soon finds himself falling in love with the girl who stays next door.
Super Singh
Watch Super Singh trailer here
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Anurag Singh
- Stars: Diljit Dosanjh, Sonam Bajwa, Pavan Malhotra, Alexandra B
- IMDb User Rating: 6.1 stars
Super Singh is a hilarious ride that you would love to watch if you love Punjabi comedy. Considered one of the top Punjabi movies of all time, Super Singh is about a man who suddenly gets amazing superpowers.
What ensues are multiple awkward situations, goof-ups and a laughter riot. However, the protagonist also discovers the real meaning of love and life, courage and kindness in the process.
Rabb da Radio
Watch Rabb da Radio trailer here
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Jass Grewal
- Stars: Tarsem Jassar, Simi Chahal, Mandy Takhar, Nirmal Rishi
- IMDb User Rating: 8.2 stars
Counted among the top Punjabi movies of all time, Rabb da Radio is a beautifully created Punjabi movie. It speaks of a couple who come from enormously different economic backgrounds.
Their struggles to keep their relationship alive amid constant pressures of their families forms the strong gist of the movie. The cinematographers of the movie have been lauded widely for their brilliant work, considering the amount of attention that has been paid to minute detail and the overall vibe that the movie provides.
Sardar Mohammad
Watch Sardar Mohammad trailer here
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Harry Bhatti
- Stars: Tarsem Jassar, Karamjit A, Rahul Jungral, Sardar Sohi
- IMDb User Rating: 7.5 stars
The movie Sardar Mohammad by Harry Bhatti is set during the India-Pakistan Partition phase. The story revolves around an infant who is saved by an Indian Punjabi police officer. The officer tends to the boy as his own, who grows up to be very attached to his parents, especially his mother.
However, the day arrives when he comes to know of his reality. This is when he grows extremely curious to know about his biological parents, who hail from Pakistan. He then embarks on a journey to look for them, and this forms the most important part of this heart-warming story.
Saab Bahadar
Watch Saab Bahadar trailer here
- Year of release: 2017
- Director: Amrit Raj Chadha
- Stars: Ammy Virk, Jaswinder B, Rana Ranbir, Preet Kamal
- IMDb User Rating: 7.2 stars
The story of Saab Bahadar revolves around a young Punjabi police officer, who takes it upon himself to go into the details of the murder of a prominent citizen. Considered one of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time, Saab Bahadar is a must-watch if you are someone who loves thrillers.
Love Punjab
Watch Love Punjab trailer here
- Year of release: 2016
- Director: Rajiv Dhingra
- Stars: Amrinder Gill, Sargun Mehta, Manvir Johal, Yograj Singh
- IMDb User Rating: 7.6 stars
Love Punjab is the story about a small Punjabi family based in Canada. The husband and wife in the family quarrel and fight daily; it seems there is no future to their relationship. The result is that their son falls victim to the constant struggle he sees every day between his parents and falls prey to depression.
The psychiatrist consulted by the parents advises them to spend a few days in their homeland, Punjab, to be able to refresh the boy’s mind. They do so, with the result that their stay in the beautiful earthiness of Punjab not only cures the boy of his depression but also brings his parents closer.
Yaar Anmulle
Watch Yaar Anmulle trailer here
- Year of release: 2011
- Director: Anurag Singh
- Stars: Arya Babbar, Jividha Astha, Harish Verma, Jenny
- IMDb User Rating: 7.5 stars
Yaar Anmulle is the fun-filled story of three friends who are all university students. They stay together in the hostel of the same university.
The film tries to capture the carefree life and solid friendship of the three friends as they bunk classes, get into fights with their rivals, chat and laugh away their college life. The twist in their story comes when they fall in love together. This is when their life embarks on a complicated, yet hilarious turn.
Goreyan Nu Daffa Karo
Watch Goreyan Nu Daffa Karo trailer here
- Year of release: 2014
- Director: Pankaj Batra
- Stars: Amrinder Gill, Binnu Dhillon, Yograj Singh, Rana Ranbir
- IMDb User Rating: 7.4 stars
This fantastic blend of comedy and drama is, without any doubts, one of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time. Goreyan Nu Daffa Karo is a love story between two people with completely different cultural backgrounds. The beauty of the movie lies in its simplicity, yet the hilarious depiction of a cross-cultural romantic ride.
Dharti
- Year of release: 2011
- Director: Navaniat Singh
- Stars: Jimmy Shergill, Surveen Chawla, Japji Khaira, Ranvijay Singh
- IMDb User Rating: 7.1 stars
Dharti is, without a doubt, one of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time, and it certainly lives up to that reputation. The intense political thriller revolves around Jasdeep, who quarrels with his father, a powerful politician, and later joins the Indian Air Force.
However, he finds himself going back to his homeland, thanks to the intensification of the political scenario there. Besides, his brother’s death is a cause for pain and mystery. Packed with stellar performances and great writing, this is one Punjabi movie you cannot miss.
Kaptaan
- Year of release: 2016
- Director: Mandeep Kumar
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Monica Gill, Karishma Kotak, Pankaj Dheer
- IMDb User Rating: 6.5 stars
Kaptaan is the story of a lawyer who wishes to change his life for good. He joins an NGO and begins working on social and humanitarian causes, but life is only about to put forth multiple complications for him now.
Subedar Joginder Singh
Watch Subedar Joginder Singh trailer here
- Year of release: 2018
- Director: Simerjit Singh
- Stars: Gippy Grewal, Aditi Sharma, Guggu Gill, Nirmal Rishi
- IMDb User Rating: 7.2 stars
This brilliantly crafted movie is a biopic on Subedar Joginder Singh, a Param Vir Chakra awardee, which happens to be India’s highest wartime gallantry award.
It goes without saying that the movie is full of action, drama and is a must-watch for any lover of Punjabi cinema. No wonder, it deserves a place among the top Punjabi movies of all time.
Conclusion
Punjabi cinema can be described as a roller-coaster ride – great music, vibrant cultural display and rock-solid performances. No wonder, Punjabi cinema is so widely popular all around the world.
Punjabi actors are often cast in Bollywood movies as well, and the credit goes to not just their great acting skills, but also their golden presence on the screen.
We hope this list of the top 25 Punjabi movies of all time was able to cover different aspects of Punjabi cinema in brief. Let us know which of these is your favorite!