Pir Waris Shah was an 18th-century Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet of the Chishti order, known popularly for his contribution to Punjabi literature.
Kuldeep Manak, also spelled as Kuldip Manak, was an Indian singer best known for singing a rare genre of Punjabi music, kali, also known by its plural form kalian or kaliyan. Manak is generally regarded as one of the greatest Punjabi artists of all time. His high pitched strong voice was unique, and instantly recognisable. A statue of Manak has been erected in Ludhiana near his residence as a tribute.
Gurdas Maan is an Indian singer, songwriter and actor mainly associated with Punjabi language music and films. He gained national attention in 1980 with the song "Dil Da Mamla Hai". Since then, he had gone on to record over 34 albums and had written over 305 songs. In 2015 he performed on the song "Ki Banu Dunia Da" with Diljit Dosanjh in MTV Coke studio India that was aired in season 4 episode 5 on MTV India.
Jee Ayan Nu is a Punjabi drama film, released on 8 November 2002.
Manmohan Singh is an Indian film director and cinematographer. He is the director of Punjabi films and the cinematographer of Bollywood films. In the past, he had frequently collaborated with Yash Chopra and his son Aditya Chopra, for whom he shot Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Mohabbatein (2000). Besides his Bollywood career as a cinematographer, he is also known as a pioneering director in Punjabi cinema. He directed his first Hindi film, Pehla Pehla Pyar in 1994 and his first Punjabi film Jee Ayan Nu in 2003. He received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the PTC Punjabi Film Awards 2019.
Punjabi cinema, also known as Pollywood or Punjwood, is cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Punjabi-language widely spoken in the Indian state of Punjab. It is based in Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Mohali.
Amitoj Maan is an Indian actor, director, author, and screenwriter known for his works in Punjabi and Hindi films. He made two films: Kaafila based on the concept of illegal immigration and Hawayein, based on the aftermath of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. Hawayein was well received, however Mann was less successful with Kaafila, which was banned in Pakistan due to the film's perceived anti-Pakistan material.
Gurpreet Singh Waraich, commonly known as Gurpreet Ghuggi, is an Indian actor, comedian and politician. He is known for his works in Punjabi and Hindi films. Ghuggi began his career by acting in theatre in the early 1990s, after which he had recurring roles in television series such as Ronak Mela and the soap opera Parchhaven. He gained international public recognition with comedic leading roles through his videos Ghuggi Junction (2003) and Ghuggi Shoo Mantar (2004), before beginning his film career by starring as Patwari Jhilmil Singh in Asa Nu Maan Watna Da (2004). He starred in the film Carry On Jatta (2012), and was praised for his meaningful leading role in Ardaas (2015).
Kimi Verma is an Indian-American actress and fashion designer who predominantly works in Punjabi films.
Gulzar Chahal is an Indian film actor and producer. He played the role of Roop in Jag Jeondeyan De Mele. He has also co-produced "Heer-Ranjha",starring Harbhajan Mann and Neeru Bajwa. He would be seen in the lead role in a Bollywood movie-"I Am Singh"(directed by Puneet Issar), in which Gulzar plays the lead role of a turbaned Sikh. The story is on mistaken identity and hate crime on Sikhs in the US., after the 9/11 tragedy. The film is inspired by real life incidents. Female actors in major roles would be Tulip Joshi and Brooke Johnston.
Asa Nu Maan Watna Da is an Indian Punjabi-language film directed by Manmohan Singh released on 7 May 2004 and starring Harbhajan Mann.
Baljit Singh Deo is an Indian music and cinematographer known for his work in the Punjabi film industry.
Babu Singh Maan, also known as Maan Maraarhan Wala, is an Indian songwriter/lyricist of Punjabi-language folk songs. He penned the first song of singer Kuldeep Manak's career.
Jaidev Kumar is an Indian musician and producer, who was born in Delhi but who moved to Mumbai in 2000. He has been working in the Punjabi music industry since 1999. His first hit album was "Dil Le Gayi Kudi Gujarat Di". He is the son of music director K Panna Lal.
Karnail Singh Paras was a Shiromani Kavishar award-winning Kavishar of Indian Punjab. He is the father of former union minister and Samajwadi Party politician Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and Canada based writer Iqbal Singh Ramoowalia. One of his granddaughters is married to famous Punjabi singer and actor Harbhajan Maan.
Satrangi Peengh 2 is a studio album by Harbhajan Mann and Gursewak Mann released on 27 December 2012.
Haani is a 2013 Indian Punjabi-language romantic drama film directed by Amitoje Mann and stars Harbhajan Mann, Mehreen Kaleka, Sarbjit Cheema, Anuj Sachdeva, Sonia Mann and Rupan Bal. The film consists of two story lines set in the years 1964 and 2013. The two story lines are told non-linearly and are interwoven with use of match cuts and reflect the themes of love and commitment.
Gaddar: The Traitor is a 2015 Indian Punjabi thriller starring Manpneet Grewal, Harbhajan Mann and Amitoj Mann. The film was released on 29 May 2015.
Sonia Mann is an Indian actress and model. She has appeared in films and music videos.
