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The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
Amritsar, September 3
Acceding to the demand from various sections of the Sikh community, film actor-producer Ajay Devgn today agreed to remove “objectionable scenes” from his upcoming film ‘Son of Sardar’.
Devgn stated this while addressing a press conference here along with Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
Earlier, he held talks with an SGPC committee, formed to look into the issue, and Sikh groups which were objecting to some clips in the film’s promos.
Surprisingly, the five-member SGPC panel was not present at the joint media briefing of Majithia and Devgn, though the committee later interacted with mediapersons at the same venue.
Devgn said that all the issues were addressed. He assured the Sikh groups that he would remove “whatever seems objectionable to them”.
“My family has its roots in Punjab and I cannot even think of hurting the people’s sentiments here. It would be like hurting my own family. There is nothing in the film which makes a mockery of the Sikhs.
“On the contrary, it will bring out Punjabi culture in a very good light.”
He, however, said he didn’t have any control over the promos that have already been released on ‘You Tube’.
He also assured that only the edited version of the film (without the ‘objectionable scenes’) would be released across the globe.
He said they had done a thorough research while making the film and even hired people from Punjab to tie turbans and other such work to ensure that Sikhs are projected in an appropriate manner.
He said that his actor friend Sanjay Dutt had spoken to Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal following which he came to the city today.
Majithia said he called Devgan to Amritsar following directions from the Deputy CM with an intention to resolve the issue amicably.
“When I spoke to Ajay, he was forthcoming on the issue and came all the way from Hyderabad to address it.” He said the actor held talks with the SGPC panel as well as different factions of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF). Both the sides were satisfied with the dialogue. He said that Devgan was keen to release the film’s music in Amritsar.
SGPC panel member RS Mehta said they saw the film’s promo which had ‘objectionable scenes’, following which they asked the actor to remove them before the film’s release.
According to him, the actor told them that the film was right now on the editing table. He said that they had asked Devgan to send a copy of the film’s final print to the SGPC before its release. Later, the committee members said that they had submitted the report of their discussion with Devgan to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar.
The ‘objections’
The Sikh groups were objecting to a tattoo and a couple of dialogues in the movie. The lead actor in the film, who is a turban-wearing Sikh played by Ajay Devgn, has a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his chest.
According to the groups, it was against Sikh principles as they have been forbidden by their gurus from worshipping idols and deities.
The Sikh outfits, which held talks with Devgn, said he had agreed to remove the tattoo. Earlier, a Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer had issued a legal notice to the actor asking him to delete the ‘objectionable’ portions in the film.
Son of Sardar: Devgn agrees to remove ‘objectionable’ scenes
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 3
Acceding to the demand from various sections of the Sikh community, film actor-producer Ajay Devgn today agreed to remove “objectionable scenes” from his upcoming film ‘Son of Sardar’.
Devgn stated this while addressing a press conference here along with Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
Earlier, he held talks with an SGPC committee, formed to look into the issue, and Sikh groups which were objecting to some clips in the film’s promos.
Surprisingly, the five-member SGPC panel was not present at the joint media briefing of Majithia and Devgn, though the committee later interacted with mediapersons at the same venue.
Devgn said that all the issues were addressed. He assured the Sikh groups that he would remove “whatever seems objectionable to them”.
“My family has its roots in Punjab and I cannot even think of hurting the people’s sentiments here. It would be like hurting my own family. There is nothing in the film which makes a mockery of the Sikhs.
“On the contrary, it will bring out Punjabi culture in a very good light.”
He, however, said he didn’t have any control over the promos that have already been released on ‘You Tube’.
He also assured that only the edited version of the film (without the ‘objectionable scenes’) would be released across the globe.
He said they had done a thorough research while making the film and even hired people from Punjab to tie turbans and other such work to ensure that Sikhs are projected in an appropriate manner.
He said that his actor friend Sanjay Dutt had spoken to Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal following which he came to the city today.
Majithia said he called Devgan to Amritsar following directions from the Deputy CM with an intention to resolve the issue amicably.
“When I spoke to Ajay, he was forthcoming on the issue and came all the way from Hyderabad to address it.” He said the actor held talks with the SGPC panel as well as different factions of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF). Both the sides were satisfied with the dialogue. He said that Devgan was keen to release the film’s music in Amritsar.
SGPC panel member RS Mehta said they saw the film’s promo which had ‘objectionable scenes’, following which they asked the actor to remove them before the film’s release.
According to him, the actor told them that the film was right now on the editing table. He said that they had asked Devgan to send a copy of the film’s final print to the SGPC before its release. Later, the committee members said that they had submitted the report of their discussion with Devgan to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar.
The ‘objections’
The Sikh groups were objecting to a tattoo and a couple of dialogues in the movie. The lead actor in the film, who is a turban-wearing Sikh played by Ajay Devgn, has a tattoo of Lord Shiva on his chest.
According to the groups, it was against Sikh principles as they have been forbidden by their gurus from worshipping idols and deities.
The Sikh outfits, which held talks with Devgn, said he had agreed to remove the tattoo. Earlier, a Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer had issued a legal notice to the actor asking him to delete the ‘objectionable’ portions in the film.
