Even as one-time porn star turned Bollywood actress Sunny leone is bold enough to share her life’s story in her biopic web series — Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story of Sunny leone, the sikh organizations are protesting for using the “Kaur” in the title.
Accusing the makers of hurting the sentiments of Sikh community by using “Kaur” — a title “bestowed by Sikh guru sahiban to Sikh women”, the Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee and the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has raised a banner of revolt against the same.
They have asked the producer Subash Chandra of Essel Group to withdraw the word or face music for hurting Sikh sentiments.
This was not the first time that Sikh organisations and Bollywood are on a collision course. There are numerous instances when the Sikh organizations have raised objections over the use of Sikh articles of faith or representation of Sikhs in the Bollywood flicks.
Many a times, the film makers even have to change the movie title or make changes in the scenes or songs.
SGPC was the first to staunchly objected to the use of “Kaur” in the title of the web series, which will premiere on Zee5 on July 16 saying that “the usage would hurt Sikh sentiments as Sunny did not follow the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, and thus, she had no right to use the title Kaur”.
Despite opposition, leone decided to go-ahead with the release.
Now, DSGMC has shot off a communiqué to Chandra, saying that the Sikh sentiments have been hurt with “your go-ahead given to biopic series of Sunny leone’s life with the name ‘Karnejit Kaur: The Untold Story of Sunny leone’.
“It is sad to note that being a north Indian with deep understanding of Punjabi way of life, still you have allowed the biopic with name ‘Kaur’. There is a sentimental value attached with the surname Kaur. Every Sikh girl remains Kaur before and even after marriage. It is a part of her identity given by Guru Sahib,” said DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
He said that they have no objection to Sunny leone choosing her profession and getting a biopic made on her life but when she has advanced in this profession under the name Sunny leone, why is Karnejit Kaur name being used as title.
“This act smacks of a publicity stunt and a way to garner more attention. Earlier too, the DSGMC had taken a stand against such cheap publicity stunts like Jacqueline Fernandez dancing wearing a kirpan — a Sikh ceremonial dagger — in the film ‘Dishoom’ which was later changed after we launched a protest,” he said.
We also raised our voice against comedy daily soap ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ for featuring a living character of Guru Gobind Singh, he added.
“Sikhs, within and outside India, are finding the usage of name ‘Kaur’ in Sunny leone biopic a bad-tasting publicity stunt,” he said while urging Chandra to either stop the premier of the biopic or withdraw the word ‘Kaur’ from the title.
Cautioning him, Sirsa said that in case their request was not addressed, “the DSGMC will ensure the result of this publicity stunt reaches your office…We shall not hesitate from protesting within your office premises against the misuse of the surname Kaur”.