Since a large section of the Sikh Community is against the screening of the Movie in Australia and termed it as Anti- Sikh. We decided not to publish the details of screening in our website.

The Punjabi Movie Nanak Shah Fakir

Nanak Shah Fakir, the movie is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak’s teachings are based on the principles of equality, goodness and virtue. God’s grace is present in the creations of the one God that is omnipresent, shapeless and timeless. Guru Nanak gave birth to a social platform of universal brotherhood where every men and women are created equal.

The cast of the movie include Arif Zakaria, Ms. Puneet Sikka, Adil Hussain, Ms. Shraddha Kaul, Anurag Arora, Narendra Jha and Govind Pandey in a pivotal role, Produced by Harinder Sikka, Dialogue written by- Harinder Singh Sikka and Screenplay By- AK Bir, Harinder Sikka. Oscar winner Resul Pookutty is the sound editor and mixer. A.R. Rahman is the score mentor and the presenter. Uttam Singh composed the music. shabads have been sung by legendary Padma awardees, Pt. Jasraj and Bhai Nirmal Singh.

The movie Nanak Shah Fakir is widely acclaimed as ‘Made in India but made for the world’. A lot of effort has been put in the making of this movie as it involves the characterization of a larger than life saint. Though the movie is widely acclaimed, the director was more or less philosophical about the movie. “The extraordinary experiences have left us all overwhelmed and deeply humbled. While some have been recorded on reel, others are embedded in the heart, forever”. It showed that no movie can ever capture the whole essence of the Guru’s character as it has to be felt within. Let us hope he has done justice to the character. He continued,” In one way, just calling out the name of the film (which would be numerous times in the day) felt as if the rosary beads were being rolled on the fingertips by the soul within. The film couldn’t have been made without the Almighty’s blessings”.

Guru Nanak was referred to as ‘Shah’ by the Muslims and ‘Fakir’ by the Hindus. The highest honour given in both the religions and hence came to be known as Nanak Shah Fakir.

The movie is marketed as “Nanak Shah Fakir” A Unique journey with The Guru through the Sun, the Stars, the Oceans and the Universe.

The shooting of the film began in November 2012. The challenge was to make a film without showing the Guru in flesh and blood but making him omnipresent in the movie. The movie is depicted through the voice of Guru’s friend, companion and disciple ‘Bhai Mardana’, a Muslim Fakir. He was the first follower of Guru Nanak. He was with Nanak in all of his journeys across India and Asia. Mardana was a Muslim, born to a Mirasi couple, Badra and Lakkho. Guru Nanak has been portrayed through computer graphics, from the back and amidst a ray of light. Music plays the most prominent role as his songs (Shabads as they are known) have been used in most places instead of dialogues. The beauty is that the musical instruments used during recording were similar to those used in 1400-1500 A.D.

The movie is shot in a massive scale with sets of war sequences and costumes that matches the era. It was shot across Leh, Himachal, Assam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bombay. During the life of the Guru, India was going through one of the most chaotic time in history. India was divided between the two faiths of Hinduism and Islam. The Hindu majority was tormented by the Muslim minority, where the power was concentrated. The movie sees the presence of Guru as an over powering presence and a guiding light through the darkest hours of Indian history.

The film has been appreciated by critics for its all-round production value, cinematography and historic content at the Cannes in May 2014, at the Sikh Film Festival at Toronto in Oct 2014 and at the Sikhlens Film Festival at Chapman University, California in Nov 2014.

The movie will be released in Australia in April 2015.

Harinder Singh Sikka Interview on “Nanak Shah Fakir”

  Indian Movies in Australia