Harinder Sikka (L) - Kanwar Pal Singh (R) [File Photos]

Sikh News

Nanak Shah Fakir movie row: Another filmmaker triggered controversy to undermine my film, alleges Harinder Sikka

By Parmjeet Singh

March 27, 2015

Chandigarh: Sikh Siyasat’s attempt to reach out Harinder Sikka, maker of the controversial movie Nanak Shah Fakir, to get his version over the controversy surrounding his film did not yield any result as he could not be contacted despite repeated attempts and talks with some persons connected with his film’s marketing and promotion. But now Harkinder Sikka has reportedly spoke to media presenting his version on the issue.

A news reported by Hindustan Times says: [t]alking to HT, Sikka said, “The Guru has been shown with the help of graphics, not in any human form. I had screened the movie at the Cannes Film Festival in May last year and at the Sikh Lens arts and film festival (California) in November. Thousands of Sikhs and others appreciated it and said it would help spread Guru Nanak’s teachings. They also lauded Bhai Nirmal Singh (Hazoori raagi), who has recited the Guru’s ‘bani’.”

He further said: “Guru Nanak is a universal preacher whose teachings are also being followed by non-Sikhs worldwide. He is not merely the Guru of any Sikh radical group.”

“Sikka wondered why no such objection was raised when an animation film released last year showed images of Guru Gobind Singh. He blamed another film-maker for triggering the controversy so as to undermine ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’.”, HT news report reads further.

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“Sikka said he was not worried about radical groups’ call for a ban on the film, adding that it was not a commercial venture for him despite being a big-budget film (Rs 35 crore)”, the concerned news report reads further.

As it is clear from above version of Harinder Sikka that his movie does depict Guru Nanak Ji. Besides roles of Bibi Nanaki Ji, Mata Sulakhni Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji are also played in his moive by certain actors.

As Harinder Sikka, as per above quoted HT news reports, invokes precedence of “Chaar Sahibzaade” movie to justify his attempt to depict Guru Nanak Ji, Bibi Nanaki Ji, Mata Sulakhni Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji in clear violation of Sikh tenets.

Talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN), Dr. Sewak Singh (Asst. Professor of religion at Eternal University, Baru Sahib, HP) said: “one persons’ wrong doing can’t justify other’s wrong-doings or future violations of established norms”.

“No body is preventing anyone from making movies for preaching Sikh principles and Sikh ethos, but why the film-makers are repeatedly indulging into making moives on Sikh Gurus, when it was long back barred by the Panth”, he asked.