***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.
