NEW DELHI: The producer of “Nanak Shah Fakir”, a film on the life and teachings of Sikh founder Guru Nanak, has cancelled screening of the film that critics deemed blasphemous. The film has, however, already been released in Britain and elsewhere.

Filmmaker Harinder Singh Sikka said on Thursday offending sections of the movie would be cut so that it could be released again at a later date.

“As per the directives of holy Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs), I have decided to withdraw the movie, Nanak Shah Fakir, from all the theatres worldwide forthwith,” Sikka said in a statement.

A top Sikh body welcomed the pulling of the controversial biopic of their religion’s founder from cinemas.

The film was criticised for depicting the 15th century religious leader in human form, which is against the tenets of Sikhism.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which manages Sikh temples across India, including its holiest shrine the Golden Temple, welcomed the move, adding that it would review the new version before release.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015

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