Bhangra is a type of non-traditional music of Punjab originating in Britain, specifically Southall. It is a type of upbeat popular music associated with the Punjabi diaspora in Britain. The style has its origins in the folk music of Punjab as well as western pop music of the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to this musical fusion, Bhangra existed only as a dance form in the native Punjab. This Punjabi music was unique in that it was not traditional nor did it seek any authenticity. While the traditional folk music of Punjab has a set of melodies that are used by various singers, Bhangra was a form of strict "band culture" in that new melodies were composed for each song. Therefore, the musicians were as important as the singers.
Waris Shah was an 18th-century Punjabi Sufi poet of the Chishti order, known popularly for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is primarily known as the author of Heer Ranjha, one of the most popular tragic romances of the Punjab.
Heer Ranjha is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three are Mirza Sahiban, Sohni Mahiwal and Sassi Punnun. There are five other popular folklore stories in Punjab: Momal Rano, Umar Marvi, Lila Chanesar, Noori Jam Tamachi and Sorath Rai Diyach. These are the nine traditional folklores of Punjab. There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being Heer by Waris Shah written in 1766. It tells the story of the love between Heer Sial and Dheedo Ranjha.
Manmohan Waris is an Indian Punjabi folk/pop singer. He is the elder brother of record producer Sangtar and singer Kamal Heer. Waris is considered one of the most gifted singers of Punjabi folk music.
The tumbi or toombi, also called a tumba or toomba, is a traditional musical instrument from the Punjab region of the northern Indian subcontinent. The high-pitched, single-string plucking instrument is associated with folk music of Punjab and presently very popular in Western Bhangra music.
Asa Singh Mastana (1926–1999) was a Punjabi musician and singer best known for lending his voice to the hit Bollywood film Heer, and singing jugni and Heer-genre of folk songs, which recount the tales of Heer Ranjha by poet Waris Shah. He became popular in the 1940s, by the mid-1960s, when state-run All India Radio started promoting folk musicians, this made him, along with Surinder Kaur and Kuldeep Manak singers of cult status.
Alam Lohar was a prominent Pakistani Punjabi folk music singer. He is credited with creating and popularising the musical term Jugni.
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).
Sangtar Heer, more commonly known as just Sangtar, is a Punjabi singer, music composer, songwriter and poet. He has written songs and made music for many singers such as Kamal Heer, Manmohan Waris and Debi Makhsoospuri. His older brother Manmohan Waris and younger brother Kamal Heer are both Punjabi Pop\Folk singers.
Moti Chun Ke is a sad song collection by Punjabi singer Kamal Heer. The music was composed and produced by Sangtar.
Masti Three is a Punjabi music album and the fourth studio album by Kamal Heer released in 2006 on Plasma Records. Music composition was by Sangtar and lyrics were by Mangal Hathur and S M Sadiq.
Jinday Ni Jinday is Punjabi singer Kamal Heer's sixth studio album. It released on November 21, 2009 in Canada and the United States and November 25, 2009 worldwide on Plasma Records.
Kamal Heer is an Indian born Canadian musician. He is the younger brother of Manmohan Waris and Sangtar, two other esteemed musicians. His live performances showcase his virtuosity with taan and his command of the art of traditional Punjabi music. All three Heer brothers are behind the formulation of Punjabi Virsa shows all over the world. These shows have become internationally famous. Also a talented composer, Kamal Heer has collaborated with his brother Sangtar to write music for their brother Waris.
Punjabi Virsa 2010 was a concert tour by Kamal Heer, Manmohan Waris and Sangtar. It is the seventh Punjabi Virsa tour. They will be touring cities in England and Scotland in June and July 2010 and Canada and United States in September and October 2010. The tour is presented by One World Productions and Plasma Records.
Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu is a famous dirge by the renowned Punjabi writer and poet Amrita Pritam (1919-2005) about the horrors of the partition of the Punjab during the 1947 Partition of India. The poem is addressed to the historic Punjabi poet Waris Shah, who had written the most popular version of the Punjabi love tragedy, Heer Ranjha. It appeals to Waris Shah to arise from his grave, record the Punjab's tragedy and turn over a new page in Punjab's history.
Amar Singh Shaunki, also spelled as Amar Singh Shonki, was a Dhadi singer of Punjab, India.
Heer is a 1955 Punjabi film directed by Nazir, starring Swaran Lata and Inayat Hussain Bhatti in title roles. The movie is based on the famous Heer Ranjha poetry book, written by Waris Shah in the 18th century about the love story between Heer and her lover Ranjha. It was the first Karachi-based Punjab film.
Punjabi Virsa 2018 was a live concert tour by Kamal Heer, Manmohan Waris and Sangtar. This live musical Punjabi concert is performed every year in different countries since 2004 under title name Punjabi Virsa. This year it was performed in various cities of Canada in months of August and September 2018. It is presented by Plasma Records.
