"JO BOLE SONE HAAL"

[TavPrasad Singh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Sangat Ji,

Below is a template letter that you can send to BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) UK about the offensive Indian Film "Jo Bole Sone Haal".

Please can all email this letter to :

contact_the_bbfc@bbfc.co.uk

Dear Sir or Madam:

I write to you to express concern regarding the Indian film, "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!" which has been passed by Censors and is releasing in the UK on 13th may 2005. As you may be aware, Sikhs all over the country are agitated over the contents of the movie and the gross, negligent and deliberate misuse of the Sikh war cry and greeting, "Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri

Akal!”

A large number of Sikh organisations, from all over the world, have protested in regard to the contents of the movie as well as the use of the Sikh slogan as the title of the movie. The producers and directors of the movie have shown scant regard for the sentiments of the Sikh people.

The promos of the movie, as seen on many Satellite TV channels do not leave much to the imagination of the film goers. Scantily clad actresses intermixed with the use of a Sikh slogan is just not acceptable.

I would like to inform you that this film will offend Sikhs when the movie is released anywhere in the UK or anywhere in the world for that matter.

We love and respect our religion and any misrepresentation of the same is sacrilegious and will cause great outrage.

If the Indian Film Industry has chosen to debase society, it is welcome to go to any depths, but as far as the Sikh people are concerned, we have had enough. The Indian Film Industry has been tampering with the Sikh image through word and image for a long time. Now the Indian Film Industry has decided to use religious greetings and stereotypes to promote their brand of prejudice.

No film, which has religious content of any kind, should be certified till it is seen by a member of that community. In fact any movie having religious content should be sent to Sikh religious bodies for prior approval. Please can you explain your guidelines for such situations and specifically to the censorship of this film?

It would be naive for BBFC not to take the views of the UK Sikh Community on board and apply its powers to ban this film for its offensive content blatantly directed to Sikhs. The film is scheduled for release on 13th May 2005 and it will lead to protests wherever it is released.

I urge you to take immediate steps to stop the release of the movie “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.”

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

GURFATEH!

[Princess]

would you mind if i use ur template to start off my letter to people here in canada? such as eye on asia, albion/woodside cinemas, and other punjabi shows ? :TH:

[TavPrasad Singh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Princess Bhanji

Please use the template, the letter I have written is based on a letter by SGPC.

Does anyone know who is the UK distributors of this film?

Also can the Sangat use this template to inform and win support from their local MP's. Use www.faxyourMP.com (it does work!!)

GurFateh!!

[sher_panjabi]

TavPrasad Paaji - a slight typo:

the film name is "Jo bole so nihal" (it doesn't include - "Sat sri Akaal")

i thought i wud bring that to your attention.

Great letter! I have circulated it on egroups as well.

Keep up the gud work.

[GurSa Singh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Princess Bhanji

Please use the template, the letter I have written is based on a letter by SGPC.

Does anyone know who is the UK distributors of this film?

Also can the Sangat use this template to inform and win support from their local MP's. Use www.faxyourMP.com (it does work!!)

GurFateh!!

98189[/snapback]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

FAXYOURMP.com is a good way of getting your MPs attention. All you need to input is your postcode.

Also what is the stance of the Sikh political parties, like The Sikh Federation, on this issue. Do they see it as an issue? If anyone is an active member of the Fed please can they give us some feedback so we know if it is worth discussing with them.

Also we need to get the Gurdwaras behind this. Some letters of complaints from the Gurdwaras addressed to either the MPs, BBFC and film distributors would add impact.

[kurtas]

Please dont bother writing to any one. The Akal Takht has cleared the film so if you try and ban it you will be going against the Akal Takht decision that the film is OK.

If anyone has sent letters then they should send a follow up letter withdrawing their complaints etc on the basis that the film is ok .

"The committee also noted that Sunny Deol, the hero of the movie, insisted on growing his beard and used to tie the turban afresh. He had also employed a Sikh to help him in tying the turban."

Here is a little conspiracy theory for you all. Ponty Chadha the bigtime alcohol king has helped finance the film. SGPC elections = a lot of alcohol to win votes. So maybe this is a strategic decision, Chadhas film gets cleared and SGPC members gets lots of free booze to give out at SGPC election time. The Akal Takht Jathedar is scared of the SGPC so doe snot want to do anything that might knock him off his kursi.

[GurSa Singh]

Please dont bother writing to any one. The Akal Takht has cleared the film so if you try and ban it you will be going against the Akal Takht decision that the film is OK.

98196[/snapback]

Are we now in an embarressing situation because the AT has given it the go ahead? Have you got confirmation about this?

[kurtas]

Yup the Akal Takht says it is OK and embarrassed the whole Sikh panth. Calls into question the nexus between Ponty Chadha/bollywood/SGPC/SAD Badal/Vedanti/RSS etc etc. Next the Akal Takht will say Bezhti can be screened.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050512/punjab1.htm#1

[sher_panjabi]

Save us Guru Ji!!! What is happening!?

Panth Da Sewadaar, Singh Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti cleared a Pakandi Baba of charges laid against him by a 16yr old girl that he raped her.

HOWEVER THE COURT PROVED THE PAKHANDI BABA GUILTY -- and sentenced him 10 yrs imprisonment.

Will this be another case, where the worldly courts will prove this film to be an attack on Sikhi, and yet our own institutions and Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib fail us justice.

Every Sikh - flood emails and letters to:

1) Local MPs

2) Cinemas showing the film in your area

3) Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib (worth a try!! )

4) BBFC UK

5) Warn police that you are going to be "peacefully" protesting outside the cinema (which shows the film on the 13th May) and then let the Cinema people know that you have permission and backing from police to protest outside -- be blatent:

if u wish to lose customers then show the film and welcome our protest.... if you want normal business and want people to come to the cinema, then remove the film "Jo Bole So Nihal" from your screens. :TH:

Guru Ang Sang :cool:

[sher_panjabi]

Reply from BBFC:

Dear Manvir Singh

Thank you for your email in which you expressed concern regarding the classification of the film 'Jo Bole So Nihaal'.  I would like to explain the BBFC's decision to pass this film at the '12A' category and respond to the issue of potential offence to the Sikh community.

The film was classified '12A' primarily for its 'moderate violence', in line with our published classification Guidelines. These Guidelines are the result of an extensive consultation with a large cross-section of the public.  The Guidelines are available on our website - www.bbfc.co.uk.

With regard to the issue of potential offence to the Sikh community, I would like to reassure you that the BBFC is committed to addressing the concerns and needs of the community at large, in particular the sensitivities of ethnic and religious minorities.  It is partly for this reason that we have a broad mix of South Asian examiners (of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh origin) who remain well attuned to any issues in films that may offend or upset particular communities.

'Jo Bole So Nihaal' is a light but also impassioned film about a Punjabi Sikh policeman called Nihaal (played by Sunny Deol) who chases a terrorist from India to New York and brings him back to India, to serve the cause of justice.  As he is a proud Sikh character, his reference to the revered Sikh war cry and greeting 'Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akal!' is conveyed with the kind of glory and respect that is part of the overall positive message of the film.  It is important to clarify, from our point of view, that the film does not carry any politically sensitive or sacrilegious elements.

It is also worth noting, as most South Asian film lovers will be well aware, the Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is a proud Punjabi Sikh himself.  He has often played strong Sikh characters much to the delight of Punjabi Sikh cinema audiences across the world.  'Jo Bole So Nihaal' is a continuation of that trend and I suspect that had the film carried any intentions to offend Sikhs audiences, Mr Deol would not have agreed to play the lead.

If you decide to watch the film after its release, or receive feedback from viewers who have seen the film, we believe you will be reassured that  its intention is not to offend Sikhs.  Rather, it depicts a strong Sikh hero figure, in a straightforward thriller, who cherishes and hails the Sikh greeting that is an important part of the Sikh tradition.

May I thank you for your email, as your feedback is important to us.  I hope that this response satisfies your concerns.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours faithfully

Hammad Khan

Film & Video Examiner

It is partly for this reason that we have a broad mix of South Asian examiners (of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh origin)

>>> Really? But by the next comment, i worry what she means by "Sikh origin"

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is a proud Punjabi Sikh himself.

>>> Is he a Sikh?

Rather, it depicts a strong Sikh hero figure, in a straightforward thriller, who cherishes and hails the Sikh greeting that is an important part of the Sikh tradition.

>>> THen why is there a song which includes lyrics referring to Guru Ji and Gurbaani, but it is sung in the streets of New York with half naked ladies! Why are the film posters showing a woman half naked?