Sirsa noted that song video was “highly offensive, mala fide and deliberate insult to the well-established Sikh tenets and customs.”
Already in the thick of a controversy for ordering controversial cuts in Utda Punjab for which it was recently snubbed by Bombay High Court, Central Board of Film Certification has again invited the ire – this time of Shiromani Akali Dal controlled Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee which objected to the use of an article of Sikh faith in a yet to be released film in an “inappropriate manner”.
A dagger (short kirpan) worn with a waist belt by Jacqueline Fernandez in dance song “Ishq ka marz” in Rohit Dhawan directed movie Dishoom had Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa fuming on Tuesday and he shot off a letter to the CBFC and makers of the movie, threatening to initiate criminal proceddings if the song was not removed from from the film.
In a letter to CBFC Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, Sirsa said that “the song depicts a semi-clad actress (Ms. Jacquelin Fernandes) dancing with a Kirpan with other co-stars actor Varun Dhawan & John Abraham, one of the five compulsory Kakaars worn by a practising Sikh; dangling in front of her legs and supported by a cloth belt worn around the waist by the actress.”
Sirsa noted that song video was “highly offensive, mala fide and deliberate insult to the well-established Sikh tenets and customs.”
Sirsa, who was recently appointed advisor to Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal and was subsequently given the minister of state rank in Punjab, when contacted, said he watched the objectionable content on YouTube.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries&w=640&h=390]“I will take up the matter with concerned minister. Long back, I had made a request to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun [Jaitley] that the CBFC should have members from minority communities to ensure that sentiments of community are not hurt. I am surprised that an article of Sikh faith has been shown in such an inappropriate manner in the song. We will go to any extent to get the video removed,” he told The Indian Express.
Underlining the importance of articles of Sikh faith, Sirsa in the letter to CBFC chairman said “film directors or actresses cannot and must not be allowed to disrespect this religious symbol of the Sikh community”. He said the video had hurt the Sikh sentiments and being the general secretary of statutory Sikh body DSGMC, he was receiving numerous complaints.
He sought immediate removal of the trailers and videos of song from YouTube and other websites; deletion of the song or its reshoot sans kirpan and public apology by movie directors and actors. “Please note that if CBFC fails to take the above said corrective measures within 3 days of receipt of this letter, DSGMC will be compelled to initiate criminal proceedings against the producer/director/actress of the aforesaid movie under the relevant provision of Indian Penal Code and against the CBFC for abetment of the same offence through its inaction. The DSGMC would also be free to seek damages from the makers of the movie as well as the CBFC,” Sirsa wrote in the letter.
Asked to comment on CBFC controversy relating to cuts in Udta Punjab, a film focusing on menace of drugs in state, where CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani ordered removal of references relating to Punjab, Sirsa said, “We have nothing to do with that controversy. The only thing we have said that in the wake of surfacing of Sameer Nair’s association with, AAP should clarify whether it has funded the film [Udta Punjab] or not.”
“Other than that we have nothing to do with the controversy. If Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting, I do not think it is justified that India comments on that,” Sirsa added.
