Get,Set,Goal

Produced by Jimmy Shergill Productions and Eros International,directed by Navaniat Singh,and written by Dheeraj Rattan,the youthful zest of Taur Mitran Di is hard to miss. True to the title,it has taur (attitude /style) written all over it — good-looking Punjabi lads,fast cars and lovely girls — it’s young guns blazing alright.

But what sets it apart,or so Rannvijay insists,is the theme. “The story,the script is the real champion of this film,” says the Jalandhar-born Rannvijay,who has also acted in Singh’s other Punjabi hit,Dharti,and is part of the Punjabi cinema for the love of the land and its culture. The fact that he is a Shergill-Singh-Rattan camp loyalist also counts. “They make smart films,stories that are set in Punjab and true to this land and its people,” claims Rannvijay. Taur Mitran Di,too is out-and-out Punjabi — for one,it’s been shot entirely in Amritsar,barring a couple of songs in Ladakh. It has picked a theme central to Punjab,the sport of hockey. “More than the sport,the film focuses on the youth of Punjab,the ones who are aimless,who daydream and lack direction. This film is about chasing one’s dreams,realising them and having a purpose in life,” say Gill,and Rannvijay.

Living life with a purpose is the real taur,according to them. The film also stars Mukesh Rishi,Rana Ranbir,Surveen Chawla and Amita Pathak.

As its music composer Jaidev Kumar released the music of the film on Tuesday at Press Club,Gill,who has given the playback to the songs in the film,confesses that singing is closest to his heart. “I will always make albums and sing,but I want to act too,” he shares.

Although he has learnt the tricks of the trade at Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting school in Mumbai,Gill feels acting is not a classroom subject. “One only learns by experience,” says the singer who plays Himmat,a character diametrically opposite to his real-life personality. “He is a spoilt brat,” says Gill with a smile,finding his action shots the toughest part to crack in the film. For adventure junkie Rannvijay,it was lip-syncing to the songs that was a challenge.

A non-violent film with a social message,Rannvijay says the film and its characters are real and easy to relate to. “It’s fast and gripping,and it’s encouraging a dying sport of the country,” he says.

While the film will release with 50 prints across Punjab,it will go to 150 cinemas worldwide. Eros International,in the meantime,is also pushing for newer markets including Moscow,China and Pakistan. Catch the film this May 11.