Singh is Bling row: Cuts made, but SGPC-DSGMC turf war may still trouble film

The DSGMC had taken the lead by first objecting to the movie and then contacting the producers to resolve the issue. The SGPC, however, has a strong view that granting clearance to the movie comes under its realm and that DSGMC should not intervene.

The movie’s previous promo faced the anger of the Akal Takht for its visuals of the Golden Temple and liquor in a list of the top five famous articles of Punjab.
In the edited promo, the Golden Temple visuals have been replaced by green fields and the liquor has been replaced with a Punjabi meal.

While both committees are run by the same party, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), a turf war has ensued. A DSGMC delegation had first met Akal Takht Jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh about the alleged objectionable scenes in the movie before meeting lead actor Akshay Kumar to make him aware of the complaint.
“DGMC had arranged a telephonic conversation between Gaini Gurbachan Singh and Akshay Kumar to resolve the issue. Akshay Kumar has given an assurance that he would make the required changes,” said Parminder Pal Singh, media advisor DSGMC.

Interestingly neither the SGPC nor DSGMC is aware of the changes that have already been made in the promo. “No one has contacted us so far from movie team. There have been some issues with movie. No one has approached us yet. We will decide only when the movie makers approach the SGPC for clearance. We cannot allow anyone to defame the image of Sikhs and our institutions,” said SGPC additional general secretary Daljit Singh Bedi.

On if DSGMC can resolve the matter, he said, “The SGPC is not just another Gurudwara management body like the DSGMC. We are the oldest body and take decisions on issues related to Sikhs. The Akal Takht Jathedar had forwarded a copy of the complaint to the SGPC. Hence only the SGPC will decide on objections made against the movie,” Bedi said.

Sarna surprise
Former DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna has surprised many by supporting SGPC over issue of deciding on controversial promo of ‘Singh is Bling’.
A hardcore critic of SAD(B), Sarna said, “It must be probed as to why the DSGMC jumped into controversy over the movie. There was no need to send a DSGMC delegation to meet Akshay Kumar. Objection by SGPC over DSGMC move has proved that our allegations of corruption in DSGMC are not baseless. Action must be taken against DSGMC for violating norms in this matter. SGPC has right to decide in this particular issue.”