The first feature film produced in the region was Daughters of Today (1928), directed by G.K. Mehta in Lahore.
The Punjabi film industry, affectionately known as , has evolved from its early roots in the 1920s into a multi-million dollar global powerhouse. Rooted in the rich cultural soil of undivided Punjab, it survived the 1947 partition and a subsequent shift to Mumbai to become a significant regional industry known for its high-energy comedies, religious epics, and chart-topping music videos. The Historical Blueprint: Milestones in Punjabi Filmography
The release of Jee Aayan Nu (2002), starring Harbhajan Mann , marked a turning point, revitalizing the industry for the global Punjabi diaspora. Blockbusters: Highest-Grossing Punjabi Films
After 1947, production shifted to Mumbai, where Chaman (1948) became the first Punjabi film released in independent India.