M A I N   N E W S

SGPC panel seeks removal of scenes
Lays down code for film-makers
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
While laying down a tough code for film and serial makers with regard to the playing of Sikh characters and the use of Sikh religious symbols and Gurbani in their productions, the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, today said that the controversial film “Jo Bole So Nihal” had not only hurt the feelings of the Sikhs but also distorted Gurbani and the sacred Sikh slogan.

Hence, the screening of the film should be stopped immediately in all parts of the country till the deletions recommended here by a committee headed by her were effected. Though the entire film was “polluted”, the committee recommended only the removal of those scenes which violated Sikh tenets. “It is a commercial film and has nothing to do with religion.” She set a up a five-member committee to prepare a detailed report on the basis of the decisions taken at today’s meeting.

As far as the code laid down by the SGPC is concerned, no film or serial producer will hence forth be able to exhibit the “parkash” of Guru Granth Sahib in their productions. No non-Amritdhari artistes will be able to play the role of an Amritdhari Sikh in any film or serial. Besides, no Sikh can be shown committing a crime or drinking liquor in any film or serial.

Obviously, it will be a tough job for producers to follow the code. “Many movies projecting Sikh characters in very good light have been made in the past but no one will take any risk in this regard in the future”, says a film-goer.

The SGPC President said that the persona of an Amritdhari Sikh was such that he could not commit any crime or take liquor. The depiction of such a Sikh as a criminal or a drunkard in films was highly objectionable. Regarding non-Amritdhari Sikhs, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that in her view “patit Sikhs” were not a part of the Sikh stream.

Meanwhile, the SGPC committee, which deliberated on various aspects of the controversial film today, asked the producer to change the title of the film, remove certain scenes, including one relating to the “parkash” of Guru Granth Sahib and others which violated the Sikh ethos.

The producer was also asked to remove from the film distortions of Gurbani.

A copy of the resolution passed by the committee to seek a ban on the film till the removal of the scenes was sent to the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Punjab Chief Secretary for appropriate action. The producer was told that after removing the objectionable scenes and other distortions relating to Sikh religious matters, the film should be shown to the committee again for approval. The film should not be shown till it was cleared by the committee.

Asked what would happen if the producer and distributors refused to comply with the directions given by the committee, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that “the Sikhs are capable of getting such directions enforced”.

“If the distributors of the film do not abide by what we say, we will see how to stop the movie from being screened in the country”, she asserted. Though she did not say so, from her tone it appeared that the SGPC may ask the Sikhs to resort to “direct action” against the film.