Golden Temple may turn off-limits for Bollywood
3 Oct 2008, 1111 hrs IST,TNN

LUDHIANA: Angered by the soaring list of film shootings at the Golden Temple, the most revered shrine of the Sikhs, priests have said the gurdwara
could soon be put out of bounds for most of Bollywood.

The development comes days after Shah Rukh Khan shot for his film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi at Harmandir Sahib.

"Everybody wants to shoot at the Golden Temple," an angry Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar complained on Wednesday. "They (the film crew) make it inconvenient for the devotees and just don’t care about maryada."

"We have decided to be more wary and circumspect in granting permission to film crews for shoots at the Golden Temple," said SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar. "Only those films or programmes that help the Sikh cause will be allowed to be shot inside the Harmandir Sahib," he added.

The SGPC's announcement on keeping the temple out of bounds for film crew has shocked Bollywood. Film-maker and cinematographer Manmohan Singh said, "How can they do that? There's only one Golden Temple and one can only go there and shoot. The SGPC needs to rethink this. At the most, it can frame guidelines for people like us."

Speaking to TOI from London, Vipul Shah, the maker of 'Namaste London', said, "It's a pious place and we respect the teachings of Sikhism. But there has to be some way out of this so that directors are allowed to shoot. The SGPC, though, can set guidelines. A committee can perhaps be set up to devise a strategy. Our purpose is to showcase the opulence of the temple, so that non-Sikhs also get to know about Punjabi culture."

Award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar, too, is not amused. "There has to be a solution to this. Maybe they can earmark some spaces for shoots along with specific days on which to do so," he said. On the complaint relating tomaryada, he said, "There can be no compromises on that. Only those who provide an assurance that the shoot will take place in accordance with norms should be allowed."

Director Satish Kaushik, for whom Punjab is a favourite theme as well as a location ground, said banning shoots at the Golden Temple would not solve the problem. "Shooting at the gurdwara is a different experience altogether," he said.

While actor-turned-politician Dara Singh said the SGPC could perhaps have scripts read to them for approval, director Aaditya Bhatt said, "I was also planning to shoot at the Golden Temple. Let's see what happens now. The SGPC could make the process more stringent rather than imposing an outright ban."

The SGPC's reservations, which could derail the plans of a host of Bollywood directors intending to shoot at the picturesque gurdwara, may have been triggered by Raj Kanwar's Sadiyaan, starring Rekha and Rishi Kapoor, getting into the crosshairs of the priests. During the shooting of the film in March, the SGPC had taken exception to a scene in which the leading actress is shown feeding prasad to her co-star. Offended, the temple management had ordered the director to scrap the scene.



Here are some comments from the people:

saabi, sydney, says: bollywood has worldwide audiences. not only the indians but whole world is watching hindi movies these days. so it could be a good medium to showcase the holiness of Golden temple to whole world..but MARAYADA (sikh practice) should nt be a compromise at all while doing so..i think proper plan can be devised to over come this problem..
[3 Oct, 2008 1521hrs IST]

inderjit sahota, united kingdom, says: Film makers need to be aware that the Golden temple is not a movie lot for their commercial purposes. The Golden temple is first and foremost a place of worship and is the holiest shrine for Sikhs. I hope SPGC and the film makers can work out an understanding, as i Sikh i would be very happy if there no films shot there.
[3 Oct, 2008 1509hrs IST]

sam, petrosa, says: That's not a bad idea at all. The money makers and the policy makers should be kept away from places of worship while at work
[3 Oct, 2008 1444hrs IST]

bharat, India, says: congratulations SGPC. right decision at right time. Keep filmwalas out of a holy an pious place.
[3 Oct, 2008 1443hrs IST]

Buta Singh Chauhan, Germany, says: I think instead of total ban on shooting of Bollywood films at Golden Temple, SGPC should lay out strict regulations concerning Sikh Maryada. It is matter of proud for Sikhs that so many non-sikhs are interested in our religious place. So, Bollywood directors should be allowed for shooting at Darbar Sahib Amritsar.
[3 Oct, 2008 1432hrs IST]

PCLUTHRA, NEW DELHI, says: GOLDEN TEMPLE IS PRECIOUS AND LIFE TO US "SANCTUM SANCTORUM". BAN FILM INDUSTRY NOT TO PICTURISE FILMS AT GOLDEN TEMPLE IS AGAINST LOVE PREACHED BY OUR GURUS.WE NEED TO TAKE A VERY REAL AND IMPARTIAL VIEW OF THE MATTER. WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
[3 Oct, 2008 1424hrs IST]

Inder Pal Singh Vaid, London, says: It is a place to worship not Film city, they should not be allowed to shoot in Golden Temple, only 1 movie per year is more than enough. It is always full of devotees and shooting everytime will create more hassle for people who are visiting Golden Temple.
[3 Oct, 2008 1344hrs IST]

Prabhjot, London, says: Surely it must be extremely difficult for the Golden Temple management to serve the film industry as well as thousands of devotees who visit the shrine every day. With all the money in the industry why can't Bollywood create one within the studios?
[3 Oct, 2008 1331hrs IST]

Vikram singh, delhi, says: The SGPC is right in a way. The Golden Temple is a place of sikh history and not a tourist spot for film shooting. Also people should not be coming there with bodyguards as all are equal.
[3 Oct, 2008 1323hrs IST]

Sunny, Delhi, says: Dear SGPC, Please form strict guidelines for film crew to follow but PLEASE do not ban it completely. I think bollywood is promoting our great religion and we are tying to block it...
[3 Oct, 2008 1313hrs IST]

Gurmeetsingh, Mumbai, says: I cannot understand why bollywood operates like a herd. They are so crazy to make money that they would go for any idea that worked. If the golden temple is going to be shown in every second movie, its surely going to become common place. It is a religious shrine. Non-sikhs also have great respect and regard for it. People visit the shrine with great devotion. We should ensure that its stature does not get reduced by over exposing it through hindi cinema
[3 Oct, 2008 1259hrs IST]

PS Lally, New Delhi, says: I totally agree with the suggestions that suitable guidelines should be framed by the SGPC, by taking into confidence the film producers who wish to visit/ shoot in the Gurudwara, so that the (i) the general public is not inconvenienced, (ii) no act/activity, like love scenes, hugging/kissing, bare headed actions, songs, prejudicial to Sikh identity takes place on the Parikarma of Harimandir Sahibji, and (iii) shoot inside the main Gurudwara, where Holy Guru Granth Sahibji is installed, is allowed only in very very rare occasions. The guidelines being followed by RETC and CTC Punjabi who are telecasting live Kirtan from Harimandir Sahib could be very helpful. Complete ban on shooting in not necessary or desirable at all.
[3 Oct, 2008 1255hrs IST]

VS, Delhi, says: People should respect the Maryada of the holy shrine while shooting there.... They shouldn't behave as they are on some Picnic or thy are above GOD.... If thy are allowed to shoot, thy should behave in proper way.... Disrespecting The Holyness of Place shouldn't take Place......
[3 Oct, 2008 1154hrs IST]

reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Golden_Temple_may_turn_off-limits_for_Bollywood/articleshow/3555158.cms