Shareek
Shareek is a 2015 Indian Punjabi-language musical drama film directed by Navaniat Singh and produced by Jeetendra Ohri under Ohri Productions and Green Planet Production. It stars Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Guggu Gill, Simar Gill, Oshin Sai, and Mukul Dev in lead roles, with supporting performances by Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, Prince KJ, Hobby Dhaliwal, and Gulchoo Jolly. The film explores themes of family feuds and land disputes in rural Punjab. It was theatrically released on 22 October 2015.[1] A sequel, Shareek 2, was released in 2022.[2]Background and Production
Development
The development of Shareek originated from director Navaniat Singh's focus on the pervasive social issue of feudal land disputes in Punjab, drawing inspiration from real-life family feuds that have historically led to violence and generational enmity in rural communities.[3] The screenplay, penned by Dheeraj Rattan, centered on themes of inheritance and rivalry, crafting a narrative around a land ownership conflict between cousins that escalates into a lasting family war.[4] This story structure highlighted the cultural tensions in Punjab's agrarian society, where sharing resources often sparks irreversible divisions.[1] Production was handled by Ohri Productions and Green Planet Productions, with key financing from producers Vivek Ohri, R.S. Gill, P.P. Saini, and K.S. Saini, supporting a modest budget typical for mid-tier Punjabi films of the era.[5] Pre-production spanned 2014 to early 2015, involving location scouting across rural Punjab to capture authentic feudal settings, ensuring the film's visual style reflected the region's stark landscapes and community dynamics.[6] Singh's vision emphasized emotional depth over action, prioritizing character-driven storytelling to underscore the human cost of such disputes.[7]Casting
The lead role of Jassa Rana was assigned to Jimmy Sheirgill, leveraging his established experience in Punjabi cinema, including successful films like Dharti (2011) and Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De (2014).[5] His contract for Shareek was signed in early 2015, aligning with the film's pre-production timeline. Mahie Gill was cast as the female lead Simran following auditions, representing her return to Punjabi cinema after focusing on Bollywood projects since her last regional film Carry On Jatta (2012).[5] The director's vision for a strong, emotionally layered female character influenced this choice, emphasizing Gill's versatility in dramatic roles.[8] For supporting roles, Guggu Gill was selected as the antagonist Surjeet, drawing on his established action-hero persona from prior Punjabi films like Jatt & Juliet 2 (2013).[9] Child actors, including debutant Simar Gill in a dual role as Ekam and Agam to depict family dynamics across generations, were chosen to bring authenticity to the youthful and relational elements of the story; at 24, Simar Gill brought his theater background from Lovely Professional University to the production.[10]Filming
Principal photography for Shareek was conducted primarily in Punjab, India, capturing the film's rural setting to reflect its themes of family and land disputes.[6] Shooting took place during the summer of 2015, with documented on-set activity occurring as late as July 21, when actors Simar Gill and Mahie Gill were photographed filming scenes.[11] The cinematography was handled by Harmeet Singh, who employed techniques to achieve a realistic portrayal of Punjabi village life.[12]Plot
Shareek depicts a generational feud in rural Punjab's feudal society, where cousins ("shareeks") become sworn enemies over a disputed piece of ancestral land. The story unfolds across three eras—the late 1980s, late 1990s, and 2015—beginning with brothers Jassa and Surjit inheriting the land, which incites envy and violence from their cousins Pali and Dara. This triggers a cycle of murders, revenge, exile to England, arranged marriages, and betrayals that span families and decades.[1][13][14][15]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
Jimmy Sheirgill stars as Jassa Brar, the principled elder brother dedicated to preserving family unity amid escalating conflicts.[1] His portrayal emphasizes Jassa's moral steadfastness and commitment to resolving familial disputes through honor and reconciliation.[16] Mahie Gill portrays Jassi Brar (née Sidhu), serving as Jassa's devoted partner and a symbol of contemporary perspectives that challenge entrenched traditional norms within the family dynamic.[17] Through her role, Jassi navigates the tensions between personal aspirations and collective family obligations.[1] Guggu Gill plays Surjit Singh Brar, the antagonistic rival cousin driven by avarice and a thirst for retribution, positioning him as the central foil to Jassa's ideals.[16] His character embodies the destructive forces of envy and betrayal that fracture kinship ties.[17] Simar Gill appears in a dual role as Ekam Brar and Agam Brar, representing the younger generation entangled in the ongoing feud and underscoring its multigenerational impact.[16] This casting choice highlights the perpetuation of ancestral rivalries into the lives of the protagonists' descendants.[1]Supporting Cast
Mukul Dev portrays Dara, Jassa's brother who returns from abroad after many years and instigates a claim for a share in the inherited land, sparking the central feud and underscoring themes of familial betrayal.[18] His character serves as the family elder whose actions fracture community bonds in the early stages of the conflict, providing initial moral framing before escalating tensions.[18] Oshin Sai plays Roohi, a relative within the extended family whose presence contributes emotional layers to the interpersonal strains caused by the land dispute.[9] Through her role, the film highlights the ripple effects of betrayal on personal relationships, adding depth to subplots involving family loyalties without overshadowing the protagonists.[9] Prince Kanwaljit Singh appears as Bant Brar, an advisory family member who offers guidance during pivotal moments of the rivalry.[16] His brief but impactful performance reinforces the communal aspects of rural Punjabi life, illustrating how elders attempt to mediate amid escalating betrayals.[16] The ensemble is rounded out by brief appearances from local Punjabi artists, who portray villagers and community figures that emphasize the collective stakes in the family's internal strife.[9] Collectively, these supporting roles bolster the narrative's focus on community cohesion tested by greed and treachery, complementing the main cast's portrayal of core protagonists in a tightly knit rural setting.[18]Music and Soundtrack
Composition
The film's songs were composed by Jaidev Kumar in collaboration with Kumar Virk, blending traditional Punjabi folk elements with contemporary beats to create a melodious soundtrack that complements the narrative's rural setting and emotional depth.[13] Lyrics for the tracks were penned by a team of writers including Happy Raikoti, Kumaar, Babu Singh Maan, and Preet Harpal, emphasizing themes of love, longing, and familial conflict that mirror the film's central plot of land disputes and relationships.[19] The recording process took place in professional studios during the film's production in 2015, featuring live instrumentation such as dhol and tumbi to evoke authentic Punjabi rhythms, with mixing handled by engineer Bhanu Thakur and assistance from Durgesh Rajbhatt and Love Shankar.[19] The background score, composed by Raju Singh, incorporated orchestral elements to heighten dramatic tension, particularly in the action sequences depicting family rivalries and confrontations, earning him the Best Background Score award at the 2016 PTC Punjabi Film Awards.[20]Track Listing
The soundtrack album for Shareek features six original tracks composed primarily by Jaidev Kumar, with additional contributions from Preet Harpal and Kumar Virk. It was released digitally and on CD on September 22, 2015, through Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. in association with Eros Now Music, with no official remixes or variant editions produced.[21][22] Notable tracks include the upbeat "Shareeke Baazi" sung by Sippy Gill, which captures themes of rivalry, and the romantic duet "Mainu Ishq Lagaa" performed by Ustad Shaukat Ali Matoi, Sanj V, and Shipra Goyal.[23][24]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boliya | Simerjit Kumar | 2:28 |
| 2 | Dil Kafiraa | Micky Singh | 5:36 |
| 3 | Mainu Ishq Lagaa | Ustad Shaukat Ali Matoi, Sanj V, Shipra Goyal | 4:34 |
| 4 | Shareeke Baazi | Sippy Gill | 4:56 |
| 5 | Mere Saiyaan | Javed Bashir | 5:44 |
| 6 | Pangey | Preet Harpal | 2:37 |