Nanak Shah Fakir

This is a work of devotion; the movie and its soundtracks left you with the feeling of deep meditation. A part of the Bhakti movement era is beautifully created. For the epic scale of the story, which includes extensive travels of Guru Nanak, the use of some Indian landscapes is truly fascinating. I am in love with the visual divinity of 'Gagan Mein Thaal' song, the Aarti by Guru Nanak at Jagannath Puri.

It's obvious that the makers took the audial & visual references from the epic historical movies of roman era (e.g. Gladiator) and some movies made on Jesus. Many scenes give the feeling that they are happening in Jerusalem's street or in Israel's desert. This remark is compliment.

Brilliantly put together despite the forced editing. Much needed and respect to the people who put this together. More of this please.

I do not leave reviews that much unless, movie touches my heart.

I think director of this movie should get Oscar for this movie. Some people in Punjab & the world, they have battles in their own mind and try to fight with mind. Kuch to log kahenge logo ka kaam hain kehna.

I think everyone in world should watch this movie. Every time, they will watch this, they will learn something new.

Lots of blessings. Calgary, Canada.

The film was very slow and boring. I found the the CGI Back or White contour (sometime silhouette) image of Guru Nanak Dev ji very distracting. Even a child watching next to me kept pointing that out. In fact, not showing the image of Guru Nanak ji is a misinterpretation of His teachings in early 1900s done most likely deliberately by the Sikh sect Tat Khalsa which ran on an anti Hindu ideology to create a unique identity of Sikhs, separate from Hindus despite the fact Guru Nanak ji was a born Hindu. This sect even violently destroyed non Sikh symbols, objects etc from Sikh temples in early 1900s. Script was bad. Editing was bad. Screenplay was strange because perhaps having to Not show Guru ji's image. Camera placement or the viewing angles came out to be weird for the same reason. As screenplay was bad too, actors looked under-utilised. The two or three lead female actors in the film were literally hamming. Classical music was good but the background score was way to modern.

***UPDATE: The film was re-released after significant editing to placate some orthodox sensitivities in India. The film has been significantly harmed by this editing. I was lucky to have watched it during its initial release in 2015. I wish for everyone's sake that the producers find a way to make the original version available - at least outside India. I'm not changing my rating officially, but I would consider it a 7 at this point. Thanks.

It is too bad that some religious sensitivities in India have kept this film from wide circulation so far. Guru Nanak is not very well understood outside the Sikhs themselves and northern India. The producer of this film has made a remarkable effort to create a film of high technical standards to address this.

The film is essentially a straight line biography. Guru Nanak's image is created through CGI, but all other characters are played live by actors. The sets, costumes and locations are well done. Cinematography is of high caliber. The music is perhaps the best aspect of this film.

The story line is essentially a string of parables - almost all of which are well known to any Sikh but would be instructive to anyone new to this topic. In my view, even though it's a biography and we all know how it is going to end, certain point of conflict and thus a climax could have been created to make the story more interesting to the broader audience. Perhaps in a future rendition.

But this can be understood by considering that the makers of this film treated the subject very carefully and in a reverent manner. Apparently to placate the sensitivities of the devout, and yet, ironically, the film has been mired in controversy in India regardless. It's a shame really as the film actually serves a very good purpose in my view.

Highly recommended.