Ive been doing stuff too…artist runs in the veins

=>”Theologically, it should be the other way round. Depicting them in art is a form of idol worship, as people have a habit of bowing down to painting or art that features pictures of the Gurus.”

I agree about the dangers involved, as I mentioned in one of my earlier posts. However, some of the Gurus sat to have their portraits painted, although I believe these paintings have now been lost.

=>”There was a recent one based on the life of Guru Gobind Singh ji wasn’t there?”

Unless you’re referring to another film, I think you’re talking about “Sarbans Dani Guru Gobind Singh.” The Guru himself was alluded to but was not directly depicted in the film.

Your other arguments are sound, although there are both pros and cons to the idea (see my post #14). However, as mentioned before, personally I think it would be a good idea to have films with actors portraying the Gurus, as long as the whole thing was handled properly and responsibly. You certainly don’t want to leave these matters in the hands of someone like Raj Babbar, considering the mess he made of the film “Shaheed Udham Singh”.

In any case, an animated version would be one good way forward as a viable alternative — if it was something along the lines of the pictures above, I think it would be pretty amazing.

But there is no taboo on painting and drawing the Gurus in art.

Theologically, it should be the other way round. Depicting them in art is a form of idol worship, as people have a habit of bowing down to painting or art that features pictures of the Gurus.

On the other hand, I don’t see any issue with portraying them in films. If I’m not mistaken, there used to be songs or little theatre productions around punjab where people used the portrayal of the gurus to spread the word of what they did. Films are an extension of that, and films have already been made on the Gurus. There was a recent one based on the life of Guru Gobind Singh ji wasn’t there?

So my point would be – make films, cartoons whatever to spread the word. The gurus themselves were not god, it is their wisdom that matters. Any hesitancy on portraying them, in my opinion, is idol worship.

LoL that would be hilarious

I liked the Hadji Singh (Sikh) character on the Johnny Qwest TV series.

My other childhood fave is Chacha Choudhury (Hindu).

Luke Cage Powerman (marvel) has got to be one of the few Muslims.

Then there was Lobo the Wolfman (Sioux ) also on marvel.

You can imagine the South Park crew actually pulling that kind of stunt…..

Awesome.

(Wasn’t there a live-action film a few years ago on the same subject, called “Sarbans Dani Guru Gobind Singh” — which depicted the events of the time, but the Guru was not shown in the film at all ?)

Yes, actors are not supposed to portray the Sikh Gurus (it’s why, as far as I know, there have never been any Indian films or TV programmes dramatising the Gurus). It’s mainly because they would not be able to do justice to what the Gurus were really like (ie. someone without the same level of spiritual awareness would not be able to accurately portray how the Gurus would have behaved). Plus, as you probably know, there is a major emphasis in Sikhism on ‘Truth’, and of course any dramatic representation wouldn’t be able to give a 100% accurate portrayal of what historically happened and how the Gurus literally spoke & behaved (it would only be an approximation), so I guess there are some concerns there too.

To my understanding there is also an element of “humility” involved, ie. an ‘ordinary’ person would not be able to do justice to the greatness of the Gurus and, ideally, should not even attempt to do so. Also, to some extent there is an issue about falling into the trap of ‘idol worship’ for the same reason as the similar prohibition in Islam regarding Mohammad; however, paintings are allowed as we all know. (Although the latter is still abused, as mentioned in my comments on SM regarding Indian serials).

However, I read on the Sikhnet discussion forum last year that the Sikh religious authorities have given permission for (at this point, hypothetical) dramatic depictions of the Gurus, but it would have to be cleared by them first.

Regarding the “voice” issue, yes there are some mixed feelings about that — some people are okay with it (personally I think someone like Kabir Bedi could do a fine job), whereas for others it’s still a complete no-no. Many people have grave objections to the Gurus being ‘reduced’ to ‘cartoons’.

I think an animated version would be a great idea. as long as it was handled properly and professionally.

(PS I’ve answered your question in the other thread, by the way).

http://www.indiantelevision.com/anex/y2k5/headlines/anex294.htm

Yeah – you are right. It would be frowned upon for the Gurus to be played by actors and the voices would also then be a problem too. But there is no taboo on painting and drawing the Gurus in art.

There are some cartoons about the shaidzadas that have been produced recently. I don’t know if the depiction of the Gurus themselves would get much support – the usual controversies would muddy the waters of that I think. Although I don’t see why, as there is no injunction on the depiction of the Gurus in art.

=>”I think that someone should make Ramayana and other mythologicals into movies – they will make Lord of the Rings look like amateur video kids play.”

They could do the same for the Mahabharata too.

Jay Singh — it’s been suggested on other desi forums that animated versions of historical stories involving the Sikh Gurus could also be a possible way forward, as it wouldn’t involve them being portrayed by human actors (apart from the voices, of course). I think this could be pretty exciting too, especially if it showed the life-story of Guru Gobind Singh (and even more so if the animation was along the lines of the pictures above). Imagine the drama, the idealism, the heroics, the music.

I remember reading some years ago about a start-up animation company in Bangalore that used traditional temple sculptors, village artists and the like during their off season or when they were out of work. Apparently they picked up the computer skills very quickly and just transferred their prodigious talents to the screen.

It was a double benefit. The company benefited and the sculptors and village artists benefited by being able to earn extra income and still being able to retain their traditional livelihoods, thus helping to preseve age-old Indian artistic traditions.

Stop Motion is having a dramatic resurgence. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned on here (but I have on another site) that my filmmaking career started with stop motion – my first short was entitled The Adventures of Fatso and Buddha, used plasticine models I made and I must’ve been about 12.

Tim Burton was initially going to use CGI for the Corpse Bride, but went with stop motion. Obviously Nick Park just won (another!) Oscar for the Curse of the Were Rabbit.

Here’s a good resource for newbies: http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=38