Negotiating Identity under Colonial Shadows: A Postcolonial Study of Angrej

Abstract

This study examines the representation of cultural identity and colonial presence in Punjabi cinema through a postcolonial analysis of Angrej (2015). Set in pre-Partition rural Punjab, the film presents a nostalgic portrayal of indigenous life under British colonial rule while largely minimizing the explicit depiction of colonial authority. Drawing on postcolonial theoretical perspectives, particularly the concepts of hybridity and cultural dominance, this paper argues that Angrej constructs an idealized vision of Punjabi identity that negotiates colonial influence through subtle narrative strategies. The analysis demonstrates how the film foregrounds local traditions, language, and social structures to assert cultural continuity and authenticity. At the same time, the relative absence of direct colonial representation reflects a form of narrative displacement that reconfigures historical realities. The findings suggest that the film contributes to a broader cinematic tendency to romanticize pre-Partition Punjab, thereby shaping collective memory and cultural identity in postcolonial contexts. Overall, the study highlights the complex relationship between nostalgia, identity construction, and postcolonial discourse in regional cinema.