Controversy erupts over Gippy Grewal’s ‘Akaal’ for ‘hurting Sikh Sentiments’

Patiala, April 10, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)

A wave of controversy has engulfed Patiala following the release of Gippy Grewal’s film ‘Akaal: The Unconquered,’ igniting passionate protests from the Sikh community over the alleged misrepresentation of revered Sikh figures. The tension escalated when police detained Baba Bakshish Singh, a prominent voice leading the opposition against the film.

Protests were also reported from Ludhina on the same grounds.

Baba Bakshish Singh, a staunch advocate for the respectful portrayal of Sikh history and traditions, asserts that he and his committee have consistently stood against cinematic depictions that they deem disrespectful to Sikh characters.

Their current grievance stems from allegations that ‘Akaal’ portrays Sikh individuals in a manner that violates religious tenets, including depictions of drinking, tobacco consumption, and characters appearing as ‘mundit’ (shaven-headed), which is considered a profound disrespect to Sikh identity and historical figures.

“If this film purports to depict the valor and sacrifice of Sikh icons like Hari Singh Nalwa or Jassa Singh Ahluwalia,” Baba Bakshish Singh passionately stated before his detention, “then those portraying them must embody the utmost reverence and dignity befitting their stature. To show them engaging in practices forbidden in our faith is an intolerable insult to our history and the sacrifices made by our ancestors.”

Undeterred by his detention, Baba Bakshish Singh has vowed that he and his community will not permit the screening of films they deem sacrilegious, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. He voiced a deep-seated suspicion that the government and administration are tacitly supporting filmmakers whose underlying motive, he believes, is to undermine the integrity of Sikh history and identity.

Drawing a parallel to the portrayal of Hindu deities, he expressed concern that a similar lack of respect is now being extended to Sikh heroes. “Today, we see Hindu gods and goddesses depicted on stage,” he lamented, “and tomorrow, our revered Sikh warriors will be similarly trivialized. To juxtapose sacred figures with symbols of vice is utterly unacceptable.”

Baba Bakshish Singh revealed that his organization had proactively sent over 150 letters to the actors and producers of ‘Akaal,’ imploring them to avoid such disrespectful portrayals. He believes that the deliberate creation of films on such sensitive topics, despite prior appeals, suggests a calculated effort to generate controversy for financial gain, at the expense of religious sentiment. The situation in Patiala underscores the deep emotional connection the Sikh community holds with its history and the profound sensitivity surrounding the depiction of its heroes and religious principles.