Writing a review for movies like “Chaar Sahibzaade” is really tough. It is difficult to give expressions to some things in life. And reviewing this movie is no less than herculean task.
“Chaar Sahibzaade” the epic saga of the sacrifices of the four sons (Sahibzaade) of Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji – the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, is one of the most historic blunders of the Mughal rulers of the times.
The film tells the story of the supreme sacrifice of the four sons (Chaar Sahibzaade) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It begins with the still of the first Sikh guru Nanak with rich and resonating voice over of Om Puri informing us about how he talked about the atrocities perpetrated by Babar to forcibly convert non-Muslims to his faith. The Voice Over (VO) goes on to describe, supported by stills, as to how Kashmiri Pandits approached the 9th Guru of the panth Guru Tegh Bahadur to save them from forced conversion and how he stood up for them, challenging the Mughal emperor that if he could convert him, the whole of India would take to Islam. He sacrificed his life for his convictions. He was beheaded in Delhi on the orders of Aurangzeb, the then Mughal emperor.
We get to know about Guru Gobind Singh taking over as the 10th Sikh guru with his headquarters at Anandpur Sahib. The animated story begins. The sons (sahibzaade) of the Guru are being groomed as warriors, scholars, and Shabad singers. The eldest is Ajit Singh followed by Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh, and Fateh Singh. While their grandmother and mother tell them the stories of Sikh gurus and their preaching, Sikh warriors train them in the use of arms. On the other hand, Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind, is plotting to capture Guru Gobind Singh as he poses a challenge to empirical authority in the region. He lays siege to Anandpur Sahib fort, forcing the Guru to leave the place. While the 10th Guru moves out of Anandpur Sahib, he is attacked by the Mughal forces. Two younger brothers and their grandmother are separated from the main group in the resulting confusion. Guru Gobind Singh, with Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh and the other Sikh warriors, manages to reach the fort of Chamakaur. Wazir Khan lays seize to the fort and the Sikh jatthas fight valiantly against the mighty Mughal army. The two elder sons Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh achieve martyrdom on the battlefield. The Mughals win the battle but fail to capture Guru Gobind Singh.
The other two brothers Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh are travelling towards Delhi along with their grandmother. They are betrayed and captured by Wazir Khan’s men. Khan tries to cajole them into changing their religion but the brave boys refuse to do so. The royal Kazi issues a fatwa for their execution. They have to be executed by constructing brick walls around them. Their grandmother bids goodbye to them and while they are taken away, she passes away. The two brave kids refuse to accept Islam even in the face of certain death. The brick walls are constructed around them and they are buried alive. Somehow, the brick walls fall apart. The boys still have life left in them. Wazir Khan orders the executioners and they behead the boys.
The VO returns to inform us about the aftermath of this horrific incident and what happened to various characters of the story and how Wazir Khan was finally killed by Banda Vairagi, a Hindu ascetic, who joined the Khalsa panth inspired by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and waged a war against the Mughal empire and its intolerance to other faiths.
It’s the content of the film and its message that matter here and not the form. The film uses basic low-end animation technique. It’s not a great technological feat in view of the kinds of advances that have been made in this field. Nevertheless, it’s an engaging and moving drama.
The movie has very powerfully represented the animation character of Dhan Guru Gobind Singh. Though no one can even imagine even the slightest pinch of the glorification of our Gurus, but it was a very respectable and first hand approach of the movie director to show the glimpse of Parkash of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Personally speaking, I was not even able to face the animated character of Guru Gobind Singh ji in the movie itself, and the whole day and night after watching the movie, I kept thinking and thinking the Parkash of our Gurus, that is lightening the whole universe.
Though the filmmakers and the writers try to soften the hard-hitting edges of the historical narrative, they do not camouflage the fact that Mughal rulers used barbaric coercive methods to convert people to Islam and they were intolerant to all other faiths in similar ways as ISIS is today.
There were some facts which seemed to be distorted in the movie but that still does not give a major setback to the movie compared to the positive side effects. The movie shows ‘Khanda’ insignia on the dastars of Sahibzaades and other Singhs picturised in the movie, whereas historically the ‘Khanda’ symbol originated long after the Guruship period.
Also remembering my childhood stories read from some historical books and listening to some old Dhadi vaars, there was a mention that when the Jalads who were building the bricked wall to execute Chhote Sahibzaade. The book stated that during the construction of the wall nearby the knee of Sahibzaade, it started getting bit slanted and the Jalads tried to break the brick then the youngest Sahibzaada Baba Fateh Singh ji warned the jalads saying that, “Sade Gode Di Chappni Nu Shil De par Ett Na Todi, Tutti Hoi Ett Sikhi De Mahalla Nu Nahi Laga Kardi “. I feel speechless on remembering these words…
In the end, My hearty kudos and gratitude to the filmmakers, for giving us a film that tells us about our glorious historical struggle to save our pluralist culture from the murderous Islamist onslaught so truthfully and boldly.
More films like these should be made. What we need is to work a little harder with higher technical benchmarks. Our history has thousands of stories like BRAVEHEART if we care to leaf through its pages. We also have the technical resources to make world-class films.
I wish more and more people watch this film for its message. I’m disregarding its serious technical and artistic flaws and giving it a high score hoping it prompts you to watch it. Its a great master piece tool to educate our upcoming generations.
This Review Publish by :- Singh Station