Starring Harbhajan Mann, Tulip Joshi, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and Puneet Issar. Directed by Baljit Singh Deo. In Punjabi with English subtitles. Rated G.

Punjabi movies, with their often unconventional storytelling, are even more loosey-goosey than song-and-dance-happy Bollywood films. Jag Jeondeyan De Mele , a locally produced Punjabi movie, is no exception with this mishmash of a story that stretches from the villages of Punjab to Vancouver.

This tragic tale of doomed lovers—Abahijot Singh (B.C.–raised Harbhajan Mann), the son of a wealthy landowner, and Mittro (Tulip Joshi), a “low caste” tribal girl—is reminiscent of any number of similarly themed Bollywood films, particularly the memorable Lamhe ( Moments ) from romance guru Yash Raj Chopra.

Despite the heavy theme, this is no dissertation on the evils of India’s caste system, and lacks any meaningful commentary.

The first half shows promise, largely due to the charming and subtle performance of Joshi, a Gujarati-Armenian Bollywood star making her Punjabi film debut. Joshi’s Mittro makes you melt every time she’s on-screen, despite some big holes in the plot and a one-note performance from Mann.

Veteran actor Puneet Issar also elevates the film as the Singh family patriarch, who must protect the family honour by barring his son from marrying outside their caste.

But the second half of the film, largely set in Canada, is a complete letdown, as the filmmakers lose track of the story and become preoccupied with product placement.

Music-video director Baljit Singh Deo has a handle on the visuals but a loose grip on the story, which he loses completely in the second half with too many unnecessary characters and plots.

Despite the many flaws of Jag Jeondeyan De Mele , lovers of Punjabi films will find it satisfying, given the good production values. All they’ll need is a high tolerance for overwrought melodrama (which I, unfortunately, don’t have).