Sarpanch (1982): A landmark in Punjabi cinema with Veerendra & Preeti Sapru taking center stage

The year 1982 was a watershed moment in Punjabi cinema as the viewers eagerly awaited the release of the Veerendra starrer Sarpanch that also starred the very popular Preeti Sapru as his love-interest. Quite expectedly the movie became the cynosure of all eyes, as it lit up the box office much to the amazement of producers and distributors alike. It also starred Yogesh Chhabra, Yash Sharma, Mehar Mittal and was directed by Veerendra himself while the music was composed by Shyam Lal Bansiwal.
The basic structure of the storyline revolved around a principled man who puts aside personal interests for the good of his village. This movie was a package of every emotion rolled into one. It was replete with romance, action, comedy, thrill; basically whatever you wanted was there in full measure.
Another highlight of the film was the debut of a ‘white’ North American female which was the first-kind-of-attempt to be seen in Punjabi cinema. This was a brave and innovative step, which added that extra spice to the film and the common cinemagoer couldn’t get enough of her. She turned out to be quite a head-turner and was shown as the legendary comedian, the late Mehar Mittal’s muse. The songs of the film are remembered to this day, especially the one by Mohammad Siddique. The one he recorded was       Nahion Bhulna Vichhoda Maainu Tera, Saare Dukh Bhul Jaange. It was filmed on the immensely-talented Yogesh Chhabra and his performance in this song, is tattooed in our hearts till date. It was one heady combination of exceptional acting, high-octane singing and meaningful lyrics. Incidentally, the lyrics of the song were penned by the great lyricist Babu Singh Maan.
The film ended up being a classic and was a part and parcel of the life of every cinema-goer who grew up in the 80s. We sincerely hope that more films like these should be made with some meaningful content, which along with entertainment, also possess a positive message to society in general and the youth in particular.