The Spinning Wheel Film Festival - an out-take
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I had the honour of witnessing this film festival at first hand in Orange County,
southern California on 18 November 2006. The festival originally started as an idea
over dinner between two friends, famous Canadian lawyer, thinker,writer and commentator
on current Sikh and non-Sikh affairs - T. Sher Singh and a friend
Dr. Brinder Ahluwalia four years ago. It has had a number of runs in their base
city - Toronto, Canada and also in San Francisco, Miami, New York and LA in USA - soon
to get to London, UK and hopefully Australia and so on.
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It is a festival of films made about Sikhs and Sikhism, but not necessarily of a
religious nature. Most are made by Sikhs but there are those made by non-Sikhs.
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The thought of writing this piece was triggered when a gentleman rang one of the
organisers and complained that there had been mention by one of the movie makers at this
event that keeping of hair for a Sikh was not necessary. Of course the gentleman had not
himself attended - perhaps it was below his dignity. That fact had been 'reported' to
him. In fact after sitting through the whole day and watching some very absorbing films
involving Sikhs and Sikhism, I was wondering when the fundamentalists and 'religious
arm' of our faith would start becoming uneasy because the aim of the festival is not
necessarily the propagation of the faith but rather an insight into Sikhs and Sikhism as
we struggle to establish ourselves as an international identity and perhaps help others
and also help us to understand ourselves better. After all, I am certain Gurinder
Chadha would have faced flak for showing (in 'Bend it like Beckham') a
turbanned Sikh with a glass of whisky in his hand; Sikhs praying to a picture of Guru
Nanak; a Sikh youth 'making out' with a buxom lass in a hidden corner, and I am sure she
probably would have edited out turbanned Sikh youth caught smoking in the toilet ! In
fact I am certain she 'changed' a Sikh family into a Gujerati family for 'Bride &
Prejudice to avert flak from the 'fundamentalist' arm.
Firstly, I am told that there are literally hundreds of films being made by Sikhs (and
non-Sikhs) about Sikhs in the diaspora and back in India, but they do not necessarily
get an audience as we lack distributorship not only on an international basis, but even
locally. This Sikh film festival has established itself in a very short time as the
premier festival for Sikh films to be showcased, and perhaps the basis for distribution
into the future. Most of the movie makers were on hand to answer questions.
Well, firstly, the movies we saw were unbelievably well made and quite an eye-opener.
Secondly, there were those present who could find fault with each and every one of the
films - that is to be expected. But, there were those who had tears in their eyes as
Sikhs, (at last!) were portrayed as heroes, and as central characters - a fact that
Bollywood and Hollywood has always denied us.
A sixteen minute clip showed a 14 year old Gurdeep Singh Bains and his younger
brother, resplendent in their light blue 'dastaars' rounding up cows, milking them,
playing soccer with school friends and going to gurdwara with grandma in an outback
region of Canada.
Tiger Jeet Singh, the legendary wrestler from Canada literally burst through
the screen as he chased a Japanese audience out of a stadium with a sword in
his hand and a red dastaar on his head, and just a pair of white swimming
trunk and white boots displaying his well honed massive body, (now 60 years
old and still fighting) like a crazed Godzilla. The Japanese love him and
come close to get slapped by him - supposedly a blessing in Japan! Then,
his gentle side, as he helps his wife raise three children and now
grandchildren; his devotion to the Guru Granth Sahib; his sensitive side
discouraging his grandchildren from taking up wrestling as a profession.
His youngest son is now fully keshadhari. There was one touching scene when
his oldest boy breaks down and tells of the fear and apprehension that goes
through their minds as his father climbs into the ring - not sure whether he
might even come out of it alive!
Reema Anand's 'Beru Sahib' was a gentle touching well narrated documentary
on this institution set up by two 'Sants' for young Sikhs to 'experience'
true basic Sikhi, besides their basic education in an institution nestling
high in the hills in Himachal Pradesh - a true role model for Sikh kids
worldwide. When asked what was the most touching moment, Reema said that
her most uplifting moment was to see 500 kids reciting their Nitnam at 3am -
the 'divine' was surely present Himself!
There were one minute and 3 minute presentations of advertisements and song
clips about Sikhs - an FBI agent, a Sikh, doing his job and a song titled
'Singh is King!'. A 6 minute amateur film which apparently was second in a
competition where film-making students had to come up with an idea and film
it within a matter of hours titled 'Hyde and Sikh'. It drew guffaws as a
potion taken by a white man to look like a Sikh to woo his Sikh girlfriend
starts to wear off and he starts becoming 'white' again!
A full- length animated movie 'Saka Sirhind' was very well received by a
resounding applause as the 'shotay Sahib Jadhay' breathed their last.
There were audience members who were openly sobbing.
The famous Gurinder Chadha contributed the 30 minute 'Acting our Age', a
self shot video by the elderly talking about their experiences staying in
UK, often neglected and facing prejudices not only from the white population
but from their own off-springs. It was sad and yet hilarious as these lovely
elders come to grips with their new lives and narrated funny stories.
Kavi Raz's full length movie - 'The Gold bracelet' was an absolute stunner
as a Sikh family comes to terms with 9/11 in USA and racialism, and
self-doubt of their own identity as recognisable Sikhs. A very moving
portrayal with some light moments, some very touching moments and tragedy.
Superbly acted and directed and worthy of opening in 5000 cinemas across
the world - BUT, will it? We do not have the kind of distribution - yet.
This film will be talked about for a long time and I consider myself
privileged that I saw it.
Safina Uberoi, an Australian-Sikh movie maker presented 'My Mother
India', a very touching documentary of her parents - an Australian mother and a
Sikh father and Indian grandparents and how the family went through both
the partition in 1947, having to come into India from Pakistan, and the
holocaust of 1984, caught in Delhi. It was a non-commital narration of her
heritage but an interesting insight into her soul, leaving her, I think,
uncertain whether she was 'Indian', 'Sikh' or 'Australian', or all three?.
There were others, like 'Continuous Journey', an indepth study of the
Komagata Maru incident with rare, recently uncovered footage by
Ali Kazimi. A story which must not be allowed to die because it is
an example of Sikh struggles to be accepted as equal human beings in a
foreign land - namely Canada where today we have representatives in
Parliament and prominent government positions besides great representation
in the legal system and also in business.
This film festival showcases 'our' movies and also to encourage more such
movies as we become collectively, an international identity. Of course the
organisers screen the movies before they are allowed to be screened but
content would also be a depiction of how Sikhs behave and not necessarily
how they should, but, through all this, the true principles of our pristine
faith will always come through.
I for one wish the organisers even greater success and I hope and pray more
and more Sikhs will support this great venture worldwide. There is talk of
the festival actually happening in Delhi and Chandigarh. I hope it makes its
mark in my own country (Australia) as we encourage a sense of belonging
towards our faith wherever we stay.
I had a five year old sitting by me for most of the festival (Gurvir, son of
one of the organisers) and it was interesting how absorbed he was and the
commentary he was making after each film. I remember him telling me after
'The Gold Bracelet', "I think that uncle in the movie should have learnt to
tie his turban better than that!". And of course the side remark, as
expected from a five year old, after the 'Continuous Journey', "Man, that
was heavy and 'l-o-n-g'!!" Yet he enjoyed every movie and wants to be there
the next time! At five, he knows his place in American society as a
full-fledged Sikh.
Next year the festival here expects to move to Hollywood and over two days.
One day was exhausting and I for one missed a couple of good documentaries
as I needed to stretch my legs. I have written this piece in the hope that
others too will look up the Spinning Wheel Film festival website and see if
they can activate their 'neck of the woods' to bring this festival to their
region. I am hoping to help organise a half day 'trailer' in Sydney and
Melbourne, soon, to encourage other 'doers' to push it further than that!
Dya Singh CD’s available for sale now at www.ethnicisland.com
Dya Singh (Australia)
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