Now, Takht does a Uturn, bans Nanak Shah Fakir
Jathedar, who gave appreciation letter in 2015, changes stance as protests continue
NEW DELHI: Two days after the SGPC urged the Union and state governments to ban the movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’, Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht on Monday announced a “ban” on its screening and appealed to the Sikh community to oppose it “in a peaceful manner” ahead of its re-release scheduled for April 13, Baisakhi. Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh reacted a day after “parallel” jathedars also announced a “hukamnama” (edict) against the movie.
AMRITSAR: Two days after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) urged the Union and state governments to ban the movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’, Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht on Monday announced a “ban” on its screening and appealed to the Sikh community to oppose it “in a peaceful manner” ahead of its re-release scheduled for April 13, Baisakhi.
Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh reacted a day after the “parallel” jathedars, “appointed” at a radical groups’ Sarbat Khalsa (congregation) in 2015, also announced a “hukamnama” (edict) against the movie based on the life of the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak.
The chief objection is that portrayal of the gurus or their family members in human form is a violation of Sikh tenets, though the movie claims to have only used graphic effects to outline Guru Nanak. The producers have already refused to hold it back at this stage, citing a U-turn by the top Sikh bodies that had approved it and even appreciated it. After it was first released in April 2015, producer Harinder Singh Sikka had to withdraw it in days, and the Punjab government too had suspended its release citing protests. The jathedar had given an appreciation letter to Sikka before that, on January 22, 2015. It read: “The film made by you on the life and teaching of Guru Nanak and Sikh religion titled ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ is praiseworthy. We congratulate you. This is a fine example of promotion of Sikh faith.”
The Takht has now changed its stance as was done by the SGPC, which had issued clearance to the movie. As the government banned the movie in 2015, the SGPC under the headship of Avtar Singh Makkar later formed a sub-committee and, on its recommendation, the Sikh ‘miniparliament’ gave approval a year later, on May 13, 2016, in a letter.
The jathedar on Monday, though, said, “Sri Akal Takht Sahib completely bans controversial movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ and this movie will not be allowed to be released at any cost. I appeal to all the followers of Guru Nanak in the world to oppose the movie in peaceful manner.”
Addressing a press conference, he added, “The SGPC has withdrawn all the letters issued to approve the movie and facilitate its promotion in its institutions. It has also written to Prime Minister, Union home minister, information and broadcasting minister and Punjab chief minister to seek a ban on the movie.”
Meanwhile, members of various Sikh organisations held protests at many places across Punjab. Addressing a gathering at Nawanshahr, former SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur said it was against the Sikh tenets to show Guru Nanak in “living form”. Some agitators also disrupted the traffic on the Bathinda-mansa road.
WHY GIVE PERMISSION FIRST, ASKS PRODUCER
Producer Sikka, when contacted, had a question for the institutions: “Why did you first gave permission to the movie?” He added, “Initially, Akal Takht approved, then SGPC objected. A year later, SGPC approved. Now the Takht has reservations. Whom should I go to? I took permissions at every step.” Asked if he would still go ahead with the release, he said, “If I withdraw the release, I will have to pay penalties in crores as I have already signed contracts with distributers and other agencies. Also, if ‘Chaar Sahibzaade’ movie can get the permission, why not this movie?” ‘Chaar Sahibzaade’ is a computer-animated historical drama film based on sacrifices of the sons of the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh.