Bollywood "Stars" treated as VIPs in Southall Gurdwara
By SSNews
Sep 13, 2006, 22:04
On Tuesday, a crew from Bollywood got to work on shooting scenes of a film at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurudwara. The Sikh Gurdwara is open to welcome people of all races, religions, cultures and creeds. However, the Southall Gurudwara committee, headed by Himmat Sohi as president, have been criticised by a cross-section of the community for giving support to the recording of the film but not ensuring Sikh Maryada (code of conduct) is being adhered to on the premises.
The manner in which the film, which stars Abhishek Bachchan and Lara Dutta, is being recorded has been called into question by Sikhs hurt by the behaviour of the film crew. Local Sangat were angered by the fact that film crews and supporting staff recording in the Sikh Place of Worship were going in and out of the Glassy Junction Pub nearby throughout shooting each day. They felt hurt that the committee were allowing people intoxicated with alcohol to enter, let alone spend most of the day inside the Gurudwara.
Sangat stated a large proportion of the Indian film crew were regularly smoking cigarettes, which caused offence particularly as they did so in the car park which is part of the Gurudwara premises. They felt hurt by Beadbi as cigarette butts and packets were thrown on the floor around the Gurudwara premises. They also stated the smokers carried the cigarettes around with them. Sikh Maryada states regarding anyone attending a Gurudwara on Section 3 Chapter IV that "he/she should not have on his/her person anything, such as tobacco or other intoxicants, which are tabooed by the Sikh religion."
A video put online by local sangat depicts the behaviour of the film crew:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
The film crew were authorised by the committee to set up trailers in the car park which local sangat say allowed them to consume meat (such as burgers and kebabs), smoke cigarettes, and other intoxitants under a degree of privacy.
Sangat also stated Sikh symbols such as the Khanda (on large necklaces) and Kara were worn by the actors, actresses and extras whilst they continued to behave in a manner in stark contrast to Gurmat, such as smoking, drinking, eating meat, wearing of very little clothing, etc. To add insult to injury they also regularly entered the Gurudwara bare-headed.
As the people perceived as "stars" were received at the Gurudwara, local people, young girls in particular were seen shouting and screaming loud enough to be heard inside the Gurudwara. Sikhs felt betrayed by the committee as it was clear that the "stars" and film crew were treated with more reverence than Sangat Guru Sahib and Maryada.
When Sikhs tried to advise the film crew of Sikh Maryada they were blocked by large numbers of Police and Security. At times Sangat was even denied entry to the Gurudwara as the "stars" needed rest and they did not want to be disturbed.
Many Sikhs feel hurt by films recorded by Bollywood in India as a high proportion tend to portray them in a negative light. Members of the ethnic minority community say that they are usually stereotyped as violent drunks that spend all day dancing to "bhangra". Actors and extras are seen with fake beards, fake turbans and other mock-ups to put Sikhs at the receiving end of most of the jokes.
Local Sikhs, angered with the Committee, were left with one question: who is it that we worship?
Please feel free to express your views to the Committee:
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall
2 - 8 Park Avenue
Southall UB1 3AG
Telephone Number : 020 8574 8901
Fax Number : 020 8574 8902
By SSNews
Sep 13, 2006, 22:04
On Tuesday, a crew from Bollywood got to work on shooting scenes of a film at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurudwara. The Sikh Gurdwara is open to welcome people of all races, religions, cultures and creeds. However, the Southall Gurudwara committee, headed by Himmat Sohi as president, have been criticised by a cross-section of the community for giving support to the recording of the film but not ensuring Sikh Maryada (code of conduct) is being adhered to on the premises.
The manner in which the film, which stars Abhishek Bachchan and Lara Dutta, is being recorded has been called into question by Sikhs hurt by the behaviour of the film crew. Local Sangat were angered by the fact that film crews and supporting staff recording in the Sikh Place of Worship were going in and out of the Glassy Junction Pub nearby throughout shooting each day. They felt hurt that the committee were allowing people intoxicated with alcohol to enter, let alone spend most of the day inside the Gurudwara.
Sangat stated a large proportion of the Indian film crew were regularly smoking cigarettes, which caused offence particularly as they did so in the car park which is part of the Gurudwara premises. They felt hurt by Beadbi as cigarette butts and packets were thrown on the floor around the Gurudwara premises. They also stated the smokers carried the cigarettes around with them. Sikh Maryada states regarding anyone attending a Gurudwara on Section 3 Chapter IV that "he/she should not have on his/her person anything, such as tobacco or other intoxicants, which are tabooed by the Sikh religion."
A video put online by local sangat depicts the behaviour of the film crew:
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
The film crew were authorised by the committee to set up trailers in the car park which local sangat say allowed them to consume meat (such as burgers and kebabs), smoke cigarettes, and other intoxitants under a degree of privacy.
Sangat also stated Sikh symbols such as the Khanda (on large necklaces) and Kara were worn by the actors, actresses and extras whilst they continued to behave in a manner in stark contrast to Gurmat, such as smoking, drinking, eating meat, wearing of very little clothing, etc. To add insult to injury they also regularly entered the Gurudwara bare-headed.
As the people perceived as "stars" were received at the Gurudwara, local people, young girls in particular were seen shouting and screaming loud enough to be heard inside the Gurudwara. Sikhs felt betrayed by the committee as it was clear that the "stars" and film crew were treated with more reverence than Sangat Guru Sahib and Maryada.
When Sikhs tried to advise the film crew of Sikh Maryada they were blocked by large numbers of Police and Security. At times Sangat was even denied entry to the Gurudwara as the "stars" needed rest and they did not want to be disturbed.
Many Sikhs feel hurt by films recorded by Bollywood in India as a high proportion tend to portray them in a negative light. Members of the ethnic minority community say that they are usually stereotyped as violent drunks that spend all day dancing to "bhangra". Actors and extras are seen with fake beards, fake turbans and other mock-ups to put Sikhs at the receiving end of most of the jokes.
Local Sikhs, angered with the Committee, were left with one question: who is it that we worship?
Please feel free to express your views to the Committee:
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall
2 - 8 Park Avenue
Southall UB1 3AG
Telephone Number : 020 8574 8901
Fax Number : 020 8574 8902
