The ‘rockstar’ saint Guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was in the city on Wednesday to talk about his controversial debut film The Messenger Of God .
Accompanied by a group of vocal young devotees, and dressed in a pink vest, off-white waist coat and wearing a lot of jewellery, the self-styled guru addressed mediapersons at Ampa Skywalk in Aminjikarai.
“In the first two viewings, the officials said they couldn’t understand the film,” he said.
The film, which has been produced and directed by him, was initially denied clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). It was later cleared by a Film Certification Appellate Tribunal after the CBFC’s decision was challenged by the makers.
When CBFC chief Leela Samson resigned from her post, she quoted this instance of the appellate body clearing the movie, among other things, as the reason for her stepping down.
Sikh groups had launched protests against the film in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, stating that a person fighting criminal cases in the court couldn’t stake a claim as a ‘messenger of God’.
But, the godman maintained that the film wasn’t offensive in its content.
“The movie doesn’t even talk about religion. It is a film against the drug mafia and drug trade, and promotes the idea of blood donation and the importance of planting trees. Most of the protestors are taking offence without even seeing the film,” he said.
When asked why despite being a saint he had wished to make a movie, he said he considered movies the best medium to get his message across. “I observed that the youth of today absorb these messages if it is in the form of a song or a movie rather than a satsang ,” he said.
During the interaction, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda clarified that he had never claimed he was God. “I have always said that I am a human. However, I am like a lecturer in college; I guide people,” he said.
‘The Messenger Of God’ was initially denied clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification
