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Why Harinder Sikka withdraw the Nanak Shah Fakir movie?

April 22, 2015 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Chandigarh: Four days after its release the controversial movie Nanak Shah Fakir was withdrawn by film-maker Harinder Sikka. Speculations are doing around that Why Harinder Sikka withdrew the movie? It’s better to have a brief look at the controversy and reasons offered by Harinder Sikka and those who opposed his movie before reaching out any conclusions.

Why controversy:
Nanak Shah Fakir movie was caught into controversy when it’s first trailer revealed that this movie portrays Guru Nanak Ji, his family members including Bibi Nanak Ji and Guru Sahib’s companion Bhai Mardana Ji.

SGPC, Akal Takhat Jathedar and Harinder Sikka’s claims:

In order to shatter the clouds of controversy the film-maker maintained that his film was cleared by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) and the Badal family. He maintained that his film was made with support and blessings of Akal Takhat Sahib. But as the anger grew against the movie, the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said that the movie was seen by a sub-committee of SGPC that had rejected the film. “This film is made in violation of Sikh tenets as it portrays Guru Nanak Ji and Guru Ji’s family members and Bhai Mardana Ji” Avtar Singh Makkar had said.

Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib, also clarified that no support was extended to Harinder Sikka’s movie by Akal Takhat Sahib.

Then a latter of appreciation of movie (on Akal Takhat’s letterhead) appeared on Social media. Giani Gurbachan Singh said that the letter was given to Harinder Sikka assuming that he was making efforts for propagation of Sikhi, but he re-maintained that no support or clearance was extended to his controversial movie.

Opposition to the movie and appeals for withdrawal (before release):
As Harinder Sikka declared to release his movie on April 17, the opposition to the film grew stronger. Sikh organisations like Dal Khalsa, Sikh Youth of Punjab, Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale, Sikh Students Federation (Mehta), United Sikh Mission, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), SGPC opposed the movie.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh wrote a letter to Harinder Sikka clarifying that why his movie was against Sikh tenets and asked him to withdraw the movie.

Sikh Diaspora organisations based in UK, Europe, Australia, Pakistan and Canada too opposed the movie.

Akal Takhat Jathedar and SGPC president also demanded withdrawal of the film. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I&B Minister Arun Jaitley to prevent screening of the movie throughout Indian subcontinent.

Screening banned in Punjab and Chandigarh:
When it was clear that Harinder Sikka was going to release his film on April 17, the Punjab government suspended the screening of the controversial film in Punjab for 2 months. After that Chandigarh administration also banned the screening of the film for 2 months.

Movie released on April 17 despite opposition:
Film-maker Harinder Sikka ignored all voices of concern and released his film April 17. The movie faced tough opposition and protest in Delhi and United Kingdom. The movie was not screened in Australia, European countries and Canada.

The film was even dropped from cinema halls in UK after two day of screening which witnessed very low turnout.

Last minute attempts to convince community leaders:
Makers of Nanak Shah Fakir movie held a special screening in Sydney on April 16 evening to convince Sikh community leaders and media sections in favour of the controversial movie, but the screening failed to yield any positive result. Harinder Sikka, on April 17 evening, made another attempt to convince representatives of various Sikh bodies and called them to watch a special screening of his controversial film in Delhi. His offer was turned down by the concerned persons, who clarified that their objections to the film were fundamental, not technical. They said that such portrayals were against established Sikh tenets therefore there was no scope of compromise over his movie.

Worldwide Sikh viewers largely neglected the film:
As Harinder Sikka had ignored the Sikh concerns, the global Sikh community in return neglected his film. His movie failed to trigger any response. Moreover the film was dropped by majority of overseas cinemas after first two days of poor turn out.

Harinder Sikka withdraws the movie:
After the movie failed to trigger any response from the global Sikh community and after it was already dropped by many of overseas Cinemas, Harinder Sikka, on April 21, announced to withdraw the movie.

What reasons Harinder Sikka has offered:
Harinder Sikka said that he received directions from Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to withdraw the movie “for the time being” and to uphold the ‘supremacy of Akal Takhat Sahib’ he decided to withdraw the movie with immediate effect. He said that the film would be released again after removing objectionable scenes from the film.

Sikka tries to save face and skin by withdrawing the movie: Dal Khalsa
Announcing the withdrawal of the movie and surrendering before the Sikh Nation, the producer Harinder Singh Sikka has tried to save face and skin.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said wisdom has dawned on the film-maker though a little too late. He will have to repent and pay for hurting the sentiments of the Sikhs and not listening to umteen calls of reason. “This is also a slap on the sleeping government of India and the film censor board that cleared the movie ignoring the blasphemous features of the said movie”.

He said that the basic concept of portraying life of Guru Sahib in films is faulty and it violates Sikh tenets. So there is no scope for such film to be corrected or re-released.

Commercial failure forced Sikka to withdraw: USM
“The commercial failure of the film and strong opposition of the movie from global Sikh community seems to be real reason behind Harinder Sikka’s decision to withdraw the movie because how he suddenly became to faithful to the Akal Takhat when he had released the movie despite opposition by the SGPC, DSGMC and Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh” said Harminder Singh of United Sikh Mission, who were opposing the movie in Delhi.

He termed the withdrawal as victory of the Sikh nation and urged Akal Takhat Jathedar to take clear and firm stand against attempts to portray or personify Sikh Gurus.

Similar views are expressed by Sikh Youth of Punjab, United Khalsa Dal (UK) and other Sikh organisations.

So what were the reason behind the withdrawal?
The fact that Harinder Sikka released the movie despite opposition by Akal Takhat Jathedar and the SGPC is enough to prove that his claims about withdrawal of movie (that he did so to uphold the supremacy of Akal Takhat Sahib) are false.

Sources said that it was hard for the movie to retain screenings after first week, as majority of overseas cinemas had already dropped the film.

Commercial failure of the movie was one of the main reasons for withdrawal of film. But basic reason is that the Sikh panth rejected the movie which led to box-office failure of the movie and ultimately to the withdrawal of the film.

In view of this, the statement of Kanwar Pal Singh of Dal Khalsa has substance that Harinder Sikka withdrew the film to save his face and skin.

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Related Topics: Dal Khalsa, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Harinder Sikka, Nanak Shah Fakir Movie, SGPC, Sikh Youth of Punjab, Sikhs in United Kingdom

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