January 2015: Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, congratulates Harinder Sikka on the film, calls movie a вЂњfine example of promotion of Sikh faithвЂќ.ДЄpril 2015: Nanak Shah Fakir, which was all set for release, withdrawn after directions from Akal Takht. However, the jathedar denied this, saying he had only appreciated the project and that too before the movie was made. In 2015, Sikka had claimed that Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had given his approval to the film. The film, produced by Harinder S Sikka, has been in the eye of the storm since its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2014 and then at Sikh Lens, Arts and Film Festival in California later that year.

The bone of contention is the picturisation of the Sikh guru in human form, which the SGPC says is against Sikhism. The movie is based on the life of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev. вЂњThe movie will not be released until objectionable parts are removed,вЂќ said SGPC spokesperson Diljeet Singh Bedi. вЂNanak Shah FakirвЂ™, a Punjabi movie produced in 2015, has run into trouble with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) imposing a ban on its release on April 13. However, following the protest, the Akal Takht Jathedar thought the screening of the film could create unrest and vitiate peace.Even as violent protests by the Karni Sena against вЂPadmavatвЂ™ have barely died down, another controversy regarding вЂњpicturisation of all that is sacredвЂќ is brewing in Punjab. On January 22, 2015, Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan had issued a congratulatory letter addressed to the film-maker Harinder terming it as a вЂњpraiseworthyвЂќ step and that it was вЂa fine example of promotion of Sikh faithвЂ™, the report added. To substantiate his claim, the report said that Roop also posted the letter dated May 13, 2016, which reads, вЂњIt is in continuation to the letter number 31424 and now after the film is seen by the appointed committee of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee, we have no objection in granting you the permission for the release of the film вЂNanak Shah FakirвЂ™.вЂќ He clarified that he had issued the letter only on the basis of an earlier letter issued by his predecessor after a sub-committee had recommended it. Referring to the letter issued under his signature on March 19, directing the gurdwaras to prominently display the posters of the film so that the devotees would be aware of the film based on Guru Nanak, Singh, in his message, submitted that the letter was withdrawn on March 29. He said it was a blunder on his part to issue such a letter, reports Tribune News Service.

In another development, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Roop Singh had apologised to the Sikhs through social media for granting permission to the film. In view of his actions, the jathedars has called on Sikhs not to have any relationships with Harinder. He said that Harinder had ignored repeated appeals to him not to release the movie, which was first supposed to be released in 2015, but held back after ferocious complaints from some segments of the Sikh community. In an announcement to the public today (12 April), Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh made known the decision after a closed-door meeting. The Akal Takht has вЂexcommunicatedвЂ™ Harinder Singh Sikka, the man behind the controversial film вЂNanak Shah FakirвЂ™, set to be released tomorrow in a number of countries, including Malaysia. LEFT: A clip taken the Nanak Shah Fakir movie trailer RIGHT: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh making the pronouncement upon Harinder Singh Sikka

Nanak shah fakir movie trailer