The pervasive influences of Western culture have entered every corner of the planet.  It can be a mixed blessing as detailed in a new documentary from Canadian filmmaker Joginder Kalsi.

In rich detail, Kalsi’s new production A Punjabi Village explores the dynamic tension of a rural Indian Punjabi village attempting to mitigate and live with the forces of modernization.

The documentary acknowledges that not long ago most of the Indian population used to live in villages – over 500,000 of them scattered all over the great sub-continent. These villages had a uniform kind of lifestyle and were completely self sufficient. A Punjabi Village documents how the fabric of the traditional system is tearing under the pressures of a global culture and economy.

The present-day Punjab, located in the northwest, is one of the 28 states of India.  While it includes only 1.53% of India’s area, it produces a 12.5% of the nation’s food and has become known as the breadbasket of India. The crossroads between civilizations and empires, the region has seen much turmoil in its history, invaded or ruled by many foreigners including Alexander the Great, Persians, Mughals, Hans, Sakas and lastly the British.  Each left a cultural imprint on the region.

Not long ago typically a Punjabi village economy supported most that lived there, but now farmland has become scarce, forcing many Punjabis to emigrate abroad. The video demonstrates how the NRIs or Non-Resident Indians are playing a significant role in helping the economy of Punjabi villages.

Kalsi’s documentary demonstrates how every Punjabi village pulsates with life, with the crowing of roosters, women milking buffaloes, churning milk, and making breakfast for their families. We get a real look inside the daily life of Punjabi existence.

Most noteworthy, the documentary looks at both sides of change and development.  It captures the undesirable effects of the new found prosperity, of drinking and drugs being used in villages. We see extravagant expense incurred on wedding ceremonies which is not traditional and from Kalsi’s point of view – wasteful..

Like everywhere else, there has been a boom in television stations serving the millions of middle-class Indians.  With Western television, come a range of influences – not all of them are desirable. “There has been a boom in teen targeted music with scantily dressed women in music videos, this is new. It is not part of our culture; this is creating a dilemma for the society,” says Kalsi.

And yet, A Punjabi Village shows how the people continue to celebrate seasonal rhythms, where different religions live in harmony and mutual respect. It is a land that seems to breed tolerance. The documentary holds out hope that the Punjabis will embrace the new, all the while preserving those cultural and religious traditions that make their land a uniquely special place that it is.