FRESNO: The San Joaquin Valley is a home to more than 85,000 Punjabi lovers; the number goes higher if Punjabis of Pakistan are also included. ‘Sensing large concentration of audience, several Punjabi entertainment ‘groups have been attracted to Fresno, ‘Local businesses are busy sponsoring such groups. Sunrise Video owned by Harjap S. Atwal is sponsoring Vaisakhi night featuring known Gurdas Mann, Manak and evergreen. Mehan Mittal. Famous Gakhal Singer Jagjit Singh is presenting on April 28th, two other troops are also visiting almost week apart.
Legend Surinder Kaur was in Fresno few weeks ago. Jagjit Singh Jeervi also presented recently, last two artists were invited by Dr. Gurcharan Singh Sidhu.
‘Additionally, programs on local radios and popular TV Awaze e Wattan ‘are other forums of Punjabi entertainment.
‘And recently the Wilson Theater in Downtown Fresno will start showing first run movies from India. Partners Gurdeep Sandhu and Jasvir Singh ‘expect the weekends at the Wilson to eventually fill the 1500 seat theater.
Sandhu, a Fowler resident, owns the Punjab Restaurant, which opened in November 1994 and became the first of four Indian businesses at the Ashlan Villa shopping center at Ashlan and Marks avenues.
Jasvir Singh, who lives in Caruthers, owns a Subway Sandwich outlet in Sanger and is studying electrical engineering at California State University, Fresno.
Singh and Sandhu have leased the Wilson for one year and have contracted with Video Sound, for movies from India, All are family films, Sandhu said, “sometimes historical and love stories.”
‘The movies will be shown on Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. Admission will cost $7.
Next weekend only, a grand opening will offer three days of movies with admissionat$5, On Friday, “Bombay” will be shown at 7 p.m. On April 20, “Dilwale Dulhenie Lejayenge” will be presented at2and7 p.m., On April 21, “Barsaad” will be shown at 2and 7pm. ‘The movies will be in the Hindi language and will not be subsided in English, Sandu said.
They will feature Indian film stars such as Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit and Amitabh Bachchan.
The number of public entertainment and athletic events geared to Indians has been on the rise in the Valley in recent months, said Pat Dysuria, owner of the Wilson.
He cited as examples live shows of Punjabi folk singing at the Wilson April 27 and May 4, another show at the Warnors Center for Performing Arts May 5 and an event at Bulldog Stadium April 21 sponsored by the Sphere Punjab Club, an international tournament in kabaddi.
(Some information Courtesy of Fresno Bee).
Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1996
