Controversy erupts over Gippy Grewal's 'Akaal: The Unconquered' for allegedly hurting religious sentiments

IANS April 11, 2025 440 views

A controversial film by Gippy Grewal has ignited tensions in the Sikh community over its portrayal of historical characters. Activist Baba Bakshish Singh claims the movie disrespects Sikh traditions by showing characters drinking and without traditional hair. The filmmaker has been accused of deliberately creating controversy and undermining Sikh cultural heritage. Patiala police have already detained the protesting activist, indicating the escalating nature of the dispute.

"Films are deliberately being made on controversial topics to promote conflicts" - Baba Bakshish Singh
Controversy erupts over Gippy Grewal's 'Akaal: The Unconquered' for allegedly hurting religious sentiments
Mumbai, April 10: A controversy has erupted in Patiala over singer and actor Gippy Grewal's recently released film 'Akaal: The Unconquered'. The Patiala police have detained Baba Bakshish Singh, who had protested against the film.

Key Points

1

Sikh activist protests film's portrayal of historical characters

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Allegations of disrespectful representation of Sikh warriors

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Film accused of undermining Sikh cultural traditions

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Filmmaker facing significant community backlash

Baba Bakshish Singh says he and his committee have always opposed films that portray Sikh characters in an inappropriate manner. He alleged that Sikh characters in the film are being shown as drinking, consuming tobacco or as' mundit '(without hair), which is an insult to Sikh history and tradition. He said if the film is based on Sikh warriors like Hari Singh Nalua or Jassa Singh Ahluwalia then those playing them should be shown with full reverence and dignity.

Baba Bakshish Singh made it clear that he would not allow such films to run at any cost, even if he had to make any sacrifice for it. He alleged that the government and the administration were supporting such filmmakers whose motive is to undermine Sikh history. He shared that as Hindu gods and goddesses are being played on the stage today, the same treatment will be meted out to Sikh heroes tomorrow.

He has said that on one hand there will be a glass of wine and on the other there will be chola-clad people playing Sikh characters, this is unacceptable to them. He said that his organisation had written 150 letters to the actors and producers of the film, urging them not to make such films on Sikh characters. Despite this, films are deliberately being made on such controversial topics and controversies are being promoted by investing money.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
I watched the film yesterday and honestly didn't find anything offensive. It's a fictional story inspired by history, not a documentary. People need to stop looking for reasons to be offended. 🤷‍♂️
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Priya M.
As a Sikh, I understand the concerns but detention seems extreme. We should have open dialogues instead of protests. Maybe the filmmakers could organize screenings for community leaders to address concerns?
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Amit S.
Respectfully, if we start censoring every historical fiction film, soon no one will make any period films at all. There's a difference between disrespect and creative interpretation.
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Simran J.
I haven't seen the film yet but portraying Sikh warriors without proper religious symbols does feel disrespectful. Our gurus sacrificed too much for us to let their legacy be misrepresented. 😔
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Vikram D.
Gippy Grewal is Sikh himself - do people really think he'd intentionally disrespect his own community? Maybe we should trust the artist's intentions until proven otherwise.
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Harpreet B.
The detention was unnecessary, but filmmakers should be more sensitive when dealing with religious figures. There's a middle ground between creative freedom and respect for faith.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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