Sikhs Irked Over The Use Of ‘sardar’ In ‘shabd’

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The Sikh community has raised objection over the use of the word "Sardar" in the movie "Shabd" produced by Pritish Nandy Communications Limited and demanded its deletion.

The Sikh Brotherhood International has rushed off letters to Pritish Nandy Communications Limited, the Censor Board of India, and the National Commission of Minorities, expressing resentment of the community.

In the letter, organisation's president Parbinder Singh Chandhok stated that the movie has hurt the self respect of the community as the the word "Sardar" has been used in a disrespectful manner.

In the movie, the word "Sardar" has been used in a comical sense. "What makes the writer, director and actors think that the word just expresses amusement ?," he sought to know in the letter.

In India and abroad, "Sardars" were torch-bearers of the freedom struggle. History will support us if we assert that "Sardars" sacrificed themselves in overwhelming numbers during the freedom struggle, he went on to state in the letter.

In fact, the word literally means a person who places his "sar (head)" on the "dar (guillotine)". It is no joke to be a "Sardar", Mr Chandok went on to point out. The "Sardars" should not be ridiculed, he said.

Meanwhile, Pritish Nandy Communications Limited has tenderred a written apology saying that they respect the Sikh community and hold it in high esteem.

About the objectionable scene, Pritish Nandy Communications Limited said there was no intention to ridicule anybody. But, "Shabd" has already been certified by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) for adult viewing, and any change now will have to be done with the CBFC's permission and carried out with the board's concurrance. We will talk to the censor board immediately and try to find a possible solution at the earliest, the letter said. —UNI

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Censor board snips scenes in ‘Shabd’ after protests from sikhs

Friday February 25 2005 17:09 IST

PTI

NEW DELHI: The film censor board has issued directions to delete certain scenes in the recently released Hindi film ‘shabd’ following complaints from the Sikh community that they were hurting their religious sentiments.

This was communicated to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) by Sharmila Tagore, chairperson of the central board of film certification (CBFC).

In a letter to NCM chairman Tarlochan Singh, the censor board informed that the necessary deletion of the objectionable scenes have been made by the producer, the commission said in a release here on Friday.

Tagore further said the censor board will take special care in future that such objectionable content is not overlooked.

Sikh organisations had lodged a strong protest claiming the Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai starrer, directed by debutante director Leena Yadav, had certain remarks which were "ridiculous and offended the Sikh sentiments," the commission said.

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