MSG replay: Movie on Guru Nanak 'Nanak Shah Fakir' draws ire of Sikh bodies

Chandigarh: Months after MSG: The Messenger of God, produced by Dera Sacha Souda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, stirred consternation among the Sikh community, another movie with equal potential for controversy is set to hit the theatres in Punjab and Haryana. The demand to ban the yet to be released film Nanak Shah Fakir, a biopic on Guru Nanak, is getting shriller by the day with the Shiromani Gurdwar Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), Akal Takht and radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa taking the lead. Protests have been held in some parts of Punjab, including that by Sikh Youth Punjab and activists of the Jatha Neeliyan Faujan in Amritsar and Patiala against the release of the film. SGPC’s president Avtar Singh Makkar has written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that the Central Board of Film Certification does not release the film as it violates the Sikh tenets and norms by portraying Guru Nanak and his family in human form. [caption id=“attachment_2193577” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A poster of the film Nanak Shah Fakir. Image courtesy: Facebook page of the film.[/caption] On the other hand, radical Sikh group, Dal Khalsa has asked Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to intervene and stop the release of the film. Those demanding the ban on the film have even filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The main objection of the SGPC and others is that the film has shown the Sikh Gurus in ‘living form’, and that the Sikh religion forbids this. They have argued that the film, if screened, will hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community across the world. Satpal Singh of Ludhiana, who has filed the petition in the High court, has said that showing Gurus in living form and the idol worship was against the basic principles of Sikh religion. Sources say the Punjab government, which recently banned MSG is mulling banning Nanak Shah Fakir in Punjab. Punjab government is getting feedback from the intelligence agencies regarding the threat to law and order if the film is released. However, undeterred by all the objection, strong reactions and threats to the film, the makers of the film have decided to release the movie worldwide on 17 April. Oscar award winner AR Rahman and Uttam Singh have composed the music of the film produced by Harinder S Sikka. Samar Sikka and Resul Pookutty are the co-producers of the Gurbani Media Publication film. Pandit Jasraj and Bhai Nirmal Singh have provided playback singing. The film will release in more than 50 other countries on the same day and none of them see any objection,” said the film producer. Nanak Shah Fakir has been courting controversy ever since its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival in may last year and also at Sikh Lens, Arts and Film Festival at California in November. In a statement issued to Firstpost, the film’s producer Harinder S Sikka, who is currently abroad, said that, “Our film was ready much before the release of the film Char Sahibzaade [an animated film on the heroic exploits of sons of Guru Govind Singh]. We added many scenes later and re-edited the film as well. But the fact is that the film received huge applause at the Cannes Film Festival market in May 2014, at International Sikh Film Festival at Toronto in 14 September and at Sikh Lens film festival on 14 November. I also showed the film to all members of Darbar sahib and received written support from them before bringing it to public domain.” “What is happening now is plain politics and pressure tactics by fringe elements who were also against the release of Char Sahabzade. Guru Nanak was born to a Hindu family, his message of Ik Onkar (there’s but One God ) and His teachings are universal. He is worshipped by Sindhis, Multanis, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.” “It is therefore sad that select people wish to make His teachings as an intellectual property or play politics even if someone is trying to spread His message selflessly…” Sikka. “A handful of naysayers cannot decided what millions of followers should watch or not,” he added in the letter. Meanwhile, music director AR Rehman and sound designer Resul Pookutty, both Oscar winners, along with veteran classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and music director Uttam Singh have released the music of the Guru Nanak biopic in New Delhi recently. Sikka has also stated that he had brought the film into public domain only after showing it to almost every senior member of the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee), many of whom appreciated it. The changes he was advised had been incorporated at a considerable expense. Makkar, however, has denied that the SGPC has cleared the film.