‘How to portray a Sikh? Ask us’

‘How to portray a Sikh? Ask us’
ROSHNI K OLIVERA , TNN 18 July 2009, 12:11am IST


There are a number of films in Bollywood these days where heroes are playing Sikhs. Saif Ali Khan will be seen playing a Sikh in his forthcoming movie, so will Ranbir Kapoor.

But, there’s resistance coming in from the Sikh community. The Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board is upset with the “stereotyped offensive Sikh images in Bollywood movies” and they’ve approached the Censor Board.

Says president Charan Singh Sapra, “We are representing the views and opinions of all Sikh individuals and organisations that are upset over the continuing demeaning portrayal of the Sikh character in Hindi cinema. The role of Bollywood in stereotyping Sikhs invariably touches the wrong nerve. It has been seen in various movies like Raja Hindustani, Jo Bole So Nihaal, Singh Is Kinng, Paying Guest. We have submitted a memorandum to the censor board and asked them to ensure that Sikhs are not wrongly represented in films.”

If a script demands a character to be a Sikh, then the community is more than willing to help filmmakers, Sapra adds. “We will guide them exactly how to portray a Sikh. Thus, they won’t end up hurting sentiments. In fact, our religious body in Dadar, Guru Singh Sabha, has a couple of people who have been specially assigned the task of guiding other community people who would like to know more about the religion. Filmmakers can take guidelines from our organisation. It will be a voluntary service by us.”

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ENTERTAINMENT-Bollywood-News-Interviews-How-to-portray-a-Sikh-Ask-us/articleshow/4788959.cms

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