This is the most "filmy" film on the list. The action sequences in Vancouver are slick. The comedy—especially the scenes with the Punjabi-Canadian police chief—is gold. However, the film suffers from an identity crisis. Is it a rom-com? An action thriller? A social drama about drugs? It tries to be all three and doesn't fully succeed at any. The songs, particularly "Gutt Nu Phirde" , were chartbusters. Diljit’s charm carries the weak patches. If you are a fan, you will love it. If not, you might find the 150-minute runtime long.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) 2. Maujaan Hi Maujaan (Released: June 2022) Starring: Gippy Grewal, Sargun Mehta, Binnu Dhillon, Tanu Grewal Director: Smeep Kang 7 Hit Movies Punjabi 2022
Let’s be honest: the plot is a recycled 90s Bollywood trope. But the execution is fresh. The cinematography captures the vibrant Punjab vs. sterile London dichotomy beautifully. Sargun Mehta has a smaller role but shines in the emotional scenes. The film’s strength is its supporting cast—Karamjit Anmol and Rana Jung Bahadur are hilarious. The weakness? A predictable second half. You know exactly how it ends, but you don’t mind the journey. A perfect Sunday afternoon watch. This is the most "filmy" film on the list
Relatability. Every Punjabi knows a couple whose wedding got delayed because of a family argument over a photo or a meal. The film captured the absurdity of honor politics. Sonam Bajwa delivered her finest performance, shedding the glam-doll image to play a sharp-tongued, educated woman who refuses to be a doormat. However, the film suffers from an identity crisis
This is the best film of 2022, artistically. The screenplay is tight—you feel the ticking clock. Sargun Mehta, as the grieving mother, delivers silence better than most actors deliver dialogues. The film doesn’t glorify Punjab’s problems; it exposes them. The use of real locations in rural Punjab adds authenticity. The only "problem" is that it’s a difficult watch. You will cry. You will feel angry. It is not a date-night movie. But for those seeking substance, Zindagi Zindabaad is a masterpiece. It closed 2022 on a poignant note, reminding everyone that Pollywood can do serious cinema just as well as comedy.
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5) 3. Jatt & Juliet 3 (Released: June 2022) Starring: Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa Director: Jagdeep Sidhu
Raw, rustic action. Punjabi audiences had been craving a massy, angry-young-man film, and Sher Punjab Di delivered. Guri, usually known for romantic roles, underwent a physical transformation—bulked up, intense eyes, and a heavy dialect.