Celebrating heritage
As the winter sun cast a golden hue over the Tagore Theatre courtyard in Chandigarh recently, laughter and conversations filled the air. Against the backdrop of cultural performances and symphonies, including Zafarnama, Gatka, Giddha, and nostalgia-filled exhibitions, Sikhlens: Sikh Arts & Film Festival’s India chapter began celebrations of its 25th year.
The full-day movie screenings featured the world premiere of animation film, Saka Sirhind—The Martyrdom Of Younger Sahibzadey, Raah-E-Nanak and Resilience of Faith, and international short, animation and documentary films, totalling 13, screened across three film sessions. Films, including Guru Nanak Matth, The Patka Box, Reviving Roots, Guru Da Kender, Rising Above: The Kamal Singh Story, Resilience of Faith, Sparks of Change, Connecting the Dots, Hola Mohalla, Eternal Musicians and The Journey of United Sikh Mission, based on Sikh culture, heritage and ethos, were produced in over six countries and presented in Punjabi, English, Hindi, Urdu and Nepali. The event also included Sikhlens 2025 Calendar launch, based on the Anglo Sikh Virtual Museum in Leicester by festival directorate and British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh.
Directorial debut
The highlight of the event was the launch of Rose Gill’s directorial debut with documentary film Raah-E-Nanak: A Journey Through Everyday Sufiyat, which explores timeless teachings of Guru Nanak ji. A labour of love, Gill feels inspired by her brother, a philanthropist and follower of Nanak’s teaching. Gill says “If you look closely, you will find Nanak everywhere, there’s a shot at the end of the film, an infant’s expression; it was written by someone else centuries ago.”
Beyond the screening, the festival offered interactive sessions about the themes of the films. The event also featured exhibitions of relics like coins from Nanak Shahi and Gobind Shahi periods, arms and armours dating back centuries, handwritten manuscripts in Gurmukhi, stamps and covers, instruments played in religious music, and much more.
