Just to start with, it is certainly worth reading the article posted / sourced via Sikhnet on the 2008 bollywood movie, Singh is Kinngh.

http://www.sikhnet.com/reviews/singh-kinngh-film-review

Last year I presented at a Sikh camp in the UK and suggested we need to create our own media. This is one answer and this film says that such desperate times need desperate efforts. We needed to assemble good media right now and more than ever!

I skimmed through the film Singh is Kinngh - I wanted to see if my fears about the film were warranted. The skimming was the result of my cringing and the fact that it was hard to concentrate. My fears about this film are warranted. The film contains swear words and variable views of Sikhs and that is putting it lightly.

In addition, questionable themes are revealed as the so called romantic comedy unfolds.

Let us consider the film in the context of whether we should laugh at ourselves.
Sorry, I can’t as it is too offensive. There is simply too much misinformation and humour that does not travel. Bollywood is known for slapstick comedy, sick jokes about speech impediments and the disabled. In this film slapstick is the focus. The various characters are shown as clumsy. Clowning around humour simply does not last.

Does the film show that Sikhs are cool just because they can capture villains from an aerial feat or rap with Snoop Dogg?
Hey! Sikhs know that they are already cool and they certainly do not need this kind of film to exhibit.

If you want to read an article I wrote as early as 2004 on how Bollywood always betrays Sikhs please checkout:

http://www.saviarora.com/bollywood-always-betrays/

The sad reality is that nothing much has changed.

It is certainly strange that in a world where Sikhs are leaders in a variety of world arenas, for example: Medicine, bravery and self-less service not enough information is available about the reality of who we are.

A light on the horizon is to see how Sikhnet inspires by the way they are encouraging the annual Sikhnet Film festival.
It shows that we can be creative without being crude and cool without being cunning like the likes of Bollywood moguls.

Keep the Faith!

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In my last post I wrote about the importance of Corporate responsibility.

One of the amazing things I’ve noticed is how people can come together to help each other.
If these attributes are true what is stopping us from eradicating poverty?

In many ways our lives are fuelled by the need to survive and progress. However, the environment that exists in rich countries does not help matters, for example: a poor work-life balance, stresses of having to perform for corporates, the mobile phone and the rush to get results amongst sometimes brutal corporate competitiveness. All these factors make us forget that we were once innocent children who could befriend anyone and have no ego in the way.

One way to make the world a better place has to be to use the existing channels of communication to highlight the plight of poorer nations.
I still believe that although there is a dark element to the Internet, it still has the power to harness good, for example:

• More on-line campaigns through tools such as Facebook
• A continuous flow of emails to ensure that those that have power can see that we put them there and they work for us!
• Bringing the themes of poverty into the mainstream in terms of encouraging the press to uncover stories
• Being positive and optimistic

With regard to the latter point, communicating positive stories in the media about how certain campaigns have worked.
We hear so much negativity, is it not time to communicate the issues and suggest that hope is possible.

The video from Leona Lewis supports the Sport Relief campaign. We need to stop poverty - The attempt to make it history must have a target date for its eradication. Notice at the end of the video with the kids smiling - That is what we need to remember can be achieved if we believe in the mission to drive the agenda rather than just be passengers of life.

The Sport Relief 2008: Zambia Food Appeal from the BBC is also an interesting video…

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