Rise of the turbaned hero

Nonika Singh

Sacred Games-2 may have left many of its diehard fans not too happy with the climax, but audience, especially in North India, must be tickled pink at the depiction of its lead protagonist, a turbaned Sikh hero being played by Saif Ali Khan.

In earlier times, Sikh characters were usually relegated to comic roles. Then came the brouhaha and struggle about getting the Sikh identity right, almost every time a Bollywood film had a Sikh character. However, it is quite heartening that over the years there has been a conscious and discernible normalisation of Sikh characters, seen and portrayed beyond stereotypes.

Metamorphosis beyond caricatures

The evolution of their portrayal from comic caricatures has moved to real and credible. The narrative has changed to record both their feats and their dilemmas. So, Sartaj (played by Saif Ali Khan) is complex, conflicted, stoic and heroic but not a superman. Of course, even when their super-heroism is brought to light as in Anurag Singh’s Kesari, with a battery of valorous Sikh soldiers at the forefront, it is a befitting and an emotive ode to the Sikh community.

Last year saw Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan where once again an A-lister, Abhishek Bachchan, donned the turban. Kanika Dhillon, the writer of the film, has her roots in Amritsar and is herself a Sikh. So it was relatively easy for her to give us this endearing Robby, played by Abhishek. She says she could not think of anyone else but a Sikh fit into the part. “We are living in exciting times of inclusivity where diversity has to be celebrated,” Kanika adds.

It’s not as if Bollywood’s tryst with a Sikh hero is a recent phenomenon. In 2008, Akshay Kumar put a Sikh protagonist on centrestage in Singh is Kinng. Prior to that, we had Sunny Deol as an endearing sardar in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Earlier too, he had made a rather handsome cut as a Sikh soldier in Border. We have had several other heroes like Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and Arjun Kapoor rocking the Sikh look.

Sensitive and sensible portrayal

Sahib Singh, a documentary filmmaker, says the big difference today is that Sikh characters are being fleshed out with sensitivity and sensibility. Rather, the entertainment industry has freed them from the shackles which many of our Sikh organisations had unnecessarily bound them with, he feels. And yet, controversies still dog films with Sikh portrayals. Smoking scenes in Manmarziyaan had to be axed.

Says Kanika, “We can’t reduce characters to just their religious identity. They are much more than just their religion and have to be understood as characters in their entirety, with complexities and nuances intact.” Sonu Sood, who was part of Singh is Kinng and has played numerous other Sikh characters, echoes similar thoughts. He says, “It is being understood, both by audiences and Sikh bodies that the idea is not to present anyone in bad light. The Sikh community and makers are on the same page as far as sentiments are concerned.”

Subtle projection a recent phenomenon

Though Sikh characters have been an integral part of Hindi cinema, their projection as s nuanced and subtle protagonist is a recent phenomenon. Sahib Singh reminds us that even Pollywood has begun to project the turbaned Sikh only in recent times. In fact, Bollywood took the lead in making a Sikh hero more acceptable and universal.

Currently, presence of directors like Anurag Singh, writers like Kanika Dhillon and actors such as singing sensation Diljit Dosanjh have led to a welcome acceptance of Sikh heroes. Sahib Singh gives greater credit to the arrival of Diljit Dosanjh on the Bollywood turf. Actor Angad Bedi may have had to sacrifice his turban to find a foothold in the film industry, but Diljit’s turbaned image, coupled with his star stature, already had a pan-India appeal.

Needed, a paradigm shift

And when the same was tapped into and transposed in Hindi cinema, it found an immediate connect and resonance. However, Diljit wants to see a greater change in the depiction of Sikhs in films. He feels a paradigm shift can come about only if more movies featuring Sikh heroes are successful at the boxoffice.

There are many examples of the magic not quite working, as it happened with Diljit’s recent Arjun Patiala. Be it Govind Nihalani’s Vijeta starring Kunal Kapoor as a Sikh Air Force pilot in 1982 or Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, films with sensitive and sensible portrayals do not always set the cash registers ringing.

However, Love Aaj Kal, with hero Saif Ali Khan as a turbaned Sikh, worked big time and set a new benchmark. National Award-winning costume designer Dolly Ahulwalia, a Punjabi, hailing from a Sikh family, was roped in to lend authenticity for the period look and to get the Sikh ethos right.

Objective perceptions

Insider’s eye and view, without a doubt, come with a greater empathy and understanding of the community. But Sahib Singh insists there is an equal need for outsiders to create Sikh characters for they can view us more dispassionately and objectively. That is why he feels an Udta Punjab has more bite, a Sartaj of Sacred Games many more inflections and Imtiaz Ali’s projection of lovelorn Veer Singh in Love Aaj Kal precise. Filmmakers must show them as real human beings, even flawed beings, and not merely eulogise them as an epitome of bravery or religious crusaders, urges Sahib Singh.

Sonu, however, believes there is no set definition of real. “Makers have to respect the sentiments of the community. Period. Creative call can’t be outside the maryada of Sikhism. One man’s opinion can’t be the barometer of millions.”

Time to dispel misconceptions

Since Bollywood is one of the biggest influencers, it can go a long way in dispelling misconceptions. In times when racist killing of Sikhs in foreign lands is fast becoming a recurring tragic reality, Bollywood can send out the right signals and project Sikh heroes as a distinct race.

Back in time, Puneet Issar’s ambitious venture I Am Singh, fuelled by a desire to set the image right, may have flopped and caught in the same archetype, it intended to defy. But on silver screen, the stories of Sikhs have begun to be told in varying shades.

And more is in the offing. Kanika has already begun etching yet another Sikh hero; Sonu is set to sign another Sikh role. Dosanjh’s Good News is around the corner. Writer-producer Harry Sachdeva is about to announce his next project with a Sikh character at the centre of the narrative. If makers are more than willing to back the turbaned Sikh, audience looking for content and diverse tales isn’t dispassionate either. Provided, as Sachdeva says, “It does not become an agenda. For stories with Sikh heroes to work, movies have to be character and content driven.” For, in the ever-evolving cinema of today, Singhs can be kings only when the content is king as well.

A rough ride

Bollywood’s tryst with the portrayal of a Sikh hero has never been a smooth sail. 

• In 2008 Akshay Kumar invited ire for the way his turban was tied in Singh is Kinng. His trimmed beard, too, earned him censure. The actor had to apologise, even reshoot a few scenes. 
• In 2012, there was a hullabaloo over over certain dialogues in Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardar. Devgn personally met representatives of some Sikh organisations and agreed to remove ‘objectionable’ scenes.
• Last year a smoking scene in Manmarziyaan was axed.
• Saif Ali Khan as Sartaj Singh of Sacred Games flinging his kada into the sea too caught the ire of naysayers.