Punjabi Cinema Shows the Coexistence of Pakistani and Indian-origin Punjabis Living Abroad

Abstract

Summary: The Punjabi diaspora is the pillar of Punjabi cinema, which shows the coexistence of Pakistani and Indian-origin Punjabis living abroad, which is settled all over the world. The word "diaspora" originally referred to the exile and dispersion of the Jews in various countries around the world, who were also expelled from Jerusalem after being expelled from Judea. After which they moved to different parts of the world, and the word "Diaspora" is also derived from the Greek language to describe their yearning for their own motherland. The Encyclopaedia of Indian Diaspora also explains its meaning: "Diaspora is derived from the memories of the immigrant man of his motherland." But on the other hand, the Punjabi Diaspora was not born like the "Diaspora" of the Jews, yet today Punjabis are scattered all over the world. In fact, due to the dividing policy of British society, after the partition of the country at the time of independence, a large number of Pakistani Punjabis came to India and many Indian Punjabis settled in Pakistan, which has determined the central and resident segments of the Punjabi diaspora. In the present era, Indian Punjab is called the centre of the Punjabi diaspora, and Pakistani Punjab is called the centre of the resident diaspora. That is why those Punjabis who have settled on any Indian territory outside of Punjab are called foreign Punjabis, and those who have settled in any other country other than India and Pakistan are called immigrant Punjabis. Diaspora-centric Punjabi cinema is playing an extremely important role in presenting this co-existence of these Punjabis on the silver screen.