(26 December 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind event for Shemaroo, Punjabi Comedy film Jija ji starring three comedians has been premiered directly on home video.

The film stars Jaspal Bhatti, Gurpreet Ghuggi (of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge fame) and Jaswinder Bhalla. Other prominent comedians who add their share of fun to this film include Savita Bhatti and Deepak Raja.

The script with its hilarious situations and the comic angles to relationships make for interesting viewing, adds Shemaroo. The film has been mainly shot at 'Bhatti's Joke Factory Studio', Mohali. Various locations in and around Chandigarh have also been used. The film has been originally shot in Punjabi and is also dubbed in Hindi for the national audience.

Shemaroo VP Hiren Gada said, "With this release, Shemaroo has reached a new milestone. It is impressive to see how the home video market in India has grown. It is great to see India joining the international league where films are specifically made for the home viewing audience. This film is close to our heart and we hope the audience worldwide, mainly our Punjabi viewers, enjoy this film."

Jija ji shows a sensitive relationship in Indian culture. However powerful the position one may hold, one is still inferior to one's sister's husband. One may be a dreaded underworld don, a top bureaucrat, or a powerful wrestler, but in front of Jijaji one is the meekest and most docile creature on the earth.

Jija ji is an out and out comedy film on the nuisance values of a relationship. Jaspal Bhatti plays the leading role of an irritating traditional Indian jija whose brother-in-law on the receiving end is the well- known comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi. Ghuggi, who plays the role of a senior IAS officer, is totally frustrated at the hands of his jija, who is always interfering in his official matters. Ultimately the story takes a turn as Ghuggi takes the help of Bhatti's jija Jaswinder Bhalla to bring him under control.