Director : Jagmeet Singh Samundri
Star Cast : Mukul Dev, Aman Dhaliwal, Oshin Brar, Dev Kharoud, Hardeep Gill, Gurinder Makna, Mahanbir Bhullar, Bego Kaur, Bhavnoor Singh, Raj Bir Suryaavannshi, Pali Sandhu, Stass Klassen, Kristen
Ratings : *** (3/5)
Synopsis : he SAKA constitutes the core of the Gurudwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in the early 20th century. Gurdwara Nankana Sahib was managed by Mahant Narayan Das in the early 20th century. Money-power made the Mahant corrupt and he started using the Gurdwara’s money for wrong deeds. The Mahant was a very desolute and wicked person who also used Gurdwara premises for immoral and highly objectionable activities. .
When the Mahant was asked to reform himself, he started making preparations to oppose the Panth (Sikh community) instead. On Feburary 20, 1921 there was a peaceful protest against the Mahant to hand over Nankana Sahib back to the Sikh community but he got all the protestors brutally killed with indirect help from the Britishers. How Nankana Sahib was finally freed from the clutches of Mahant after this incident forms the crux of story. In political significance, it comes next only to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919.
Movie Review : The Nankana massacre (or Saka Nankana) took place in Nankana Sahib at that time of British India, modern-day Pakistan. The event forms an important part of Sikh history. In political significance, it comes next only to Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saga constitutes the core of the Gurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in early twentieth century. The interesting part of this saga is the unprecedented discipline, self-control and exemplary patience displayed by the peaceful Sikh protesters even in the face of extreme barbarism. Even the national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi had to acknowledge in no ambiguous terms the glory and the prestige which the peaceful and passive resistance of the Sikhs had brought to the India’s Struggle for freedom.
Enthused by the speech of Jathedar Tehal Singh, the entire Shaheedi Jatha followed him. By this time, another horseman messenger, Bhai Ram Singh, arrived. In vain did he too try to persuade Jathedar Tehal Singh and the Jatha to return. The Jatha soon entered Darshni Deohri of the Gurdwara and shut the main door from inside. While some of the devotees took their seats inside the Prakash Asthan, others sat on the platform and the Baran dari. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali sat on Guru’s tabia. Mahant Narayan Das came to know of the situation through the Jaikaras (victory slogans) of the Shaheedi Jatha. At first, he was utterly shocked thinking that the game was over but he soon recovered and ordered his mercenaries to kill everyone in the Jatha. They fired bullets at the Sangat in Gurdwara hall. Several bullets pierced through Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The hired gundas wielded swords, spears, hatchets and other lethal weapons to mercilessly slaughter the peaceful and unproductive Sikhs within the very premises of the Gurdwara. The dead and dying Singhs were then dragged to a pile of logs which had been collected earlier and consigned to flame. By the time the police and local Sikhs came on the scene, all the dead men had been consumed by the fire. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali who was wounded with a gunshot was tied to a Jand tree and burnt alive. It was a butchery at its worst form.
The news spread and Sikhs from all parts of Punjab started their march towards Nankana Sahib. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabber reached next day with 2200 Singhs armed with shastras (arms). Fearing more trouble, Mr King, Commissioner Lahore, handed over the keys of Nankana Sahib to Shiromani Committee and arrested Mahant Narayan Das and his Pashtun mercenaries and charged them with murder, but only Mahant Narayan das and some of the mercenaries were sentenced to death.
Star Performances : Mukul Dev at his best in role of Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar. In supporting roles Aman Dhaliwal, Dev Kharoud, Hardip Gill & others also have given justice to their roles.Oshin sai who is now Oshin Brar has very short role in this movie.
Screenplay & Direction : Screenplay lacks in some parts of movie.Director Jagmeet Singh Samundri`s direction is upto mark if we leave the picturation of songs behind. In limited budget he has done good job
Music : Music of the movie is very melodies & unfortunately couldn`t reach to the maximum audience when you will see this movie you will agree by this point.
Final Words : It`s very good effort by whole team to present our history on screen. Specially sukhbir singh sandhar ( producer of movie ) who took encourage to produce this movie. You should watch this movie to know about what & why massacre of nankana sahib happened.
