Indian cinema needs more producers like Priyanka Chopra to back regional films

Priyanka Chopra’s Purple Pebble is a young production house but the production house has already produced 10 films. But what is commendable is that all the films are regional films.

While her peers are truing to make Bollywood films with unique content, Priyanka is giving a push to regional cinema. And that’s what makes her different from her contemporaries.

Marathi film Ventilator was her production house’s debut film and the movie went on to receive three National Awards, which encouraged her to back more regional projects. Priyanka has now produced Marathi, Assamese, Sikkimese, Punjabi, Bhojpuri films, and more are in the pipeline.

“A global icon like Priyanka is just the push that the talents from various parts of the country needed. She is, after all, a voice that can no longer be ignored,” Assamese film director Jahnu Barua

We hope more film produce regional films and give it new lease of life.

Punjabi Films

Priyanka Chopra was in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada) for the international launch of her Punjabi feature film Sarvann. The film is about an immigrant family in Canada and their son who’s lost his way and decides to return to India to reconnect with his roots.

Toronto has a massive Punjabi community and it made perfect business sense to debut the trailer of the Punjabi film here, especially when the film is about reconnecting to the roots (back in India). The film has been shot in Canada as well as in Chandigarh.

“There are so many of us who leave India and our cities and go away and travel and live in other parts of the world and lose touch with what is home. I really believe that for anyone who’s been displaced from their home, for whatever the reason might be, if you hold onto your roots, you always have a place in the world.” says Priyanka.

Marathi Film ‘Ventilator’

Priyanka Chopra had also produced Marathi film ‘Ventilator’ which did quite well at the box office, and was also critically acclaimed.

Assamese Films

Priyanka has also produced Assamese Film Bhoga Khidikee (directed by Jahnu Barua). The film is based on the real life experiences of a village girl in upper Assam and is set against the socio-political landscape of the state in 2015.

Sikkimese Films

Priyanka Chopra has also produced a Sikkimese film ‘Pahuna’. The entire cast and most of the technicians who worked on the movie were hired from Sikkim itself. As per reports, the banner worked closely with Ministry of Tourism Sikkim for the film Pahuna.

Priyanka Chopra Produces Trash Bhojpuri Movie

It seemed as if Priyanka Chopra could do no wrong. But finally, Priyanka Chopra finds herself in the middle of a controversy.

Her maiden Bhojpuri production ‘Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi’ (featuring Dineshlal Niarahua and Amrapali Dubey) has angered the connoisseurs of regional cinema ( in Bihar), because of the films ‘raunchy’ contents (the film has lyrics such as Bolah khatiya se khatiya sataiba ki naa – Tell me whether you will get our cots closer).

Says National Award winning director Nitin N Chandraa, “The film is ‘extremely vulgar’. At a time when my mother tongue Bhojpuri is fighting for its existence, Priyanka has not only defamed herself but also besmirched her Padma Shri award by producing a movie like this. She has dishonored the 15-crore Bhojpuri-speaking people by making such a film. I am extremely hurt. I will write an open letter to her.”

However, Priyanka justified her film and called it the ‘requirement’ of regional cinema. “Is Hindi devoid of vulgarity? I am myself fond of such latke-jhatke (thrills and frills) in movies,” she said.

Several regional films filmmakers were hoping that Priyanka Chopra’s foray into Bhojpuri cinema would help the Bhojpuri industry make better movies. But they were disappointed that Priyanka chose to play it safe and followed the beaten track.

The controversy, however, did not deter the Bihar government from felicitating Priyanka at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Bihar State Film Development Corporation.

Purple Pebble Pictures

Purple Pebble Pictures is the name of Priyanka Chopra’s film production company. It is located in Mumbai. The production house produces films in various languages.
Website: purplepebblepictures.com