The first short film Aisa Naam has just been released from the Chanbir Kaur Music label, which explores the power of Gurbani and how the Sikh faith helps us to cope with life's challenges and improve our mental health/well-being.
The film’s soundtrack is the shabad recorded last year from Japji Sahib covering Pauri’s 12-15, called “Aisa Naam”, sung by Chanbir Kaur and Tajinder kaur which describes the virtues and blessings of meditating on God's name. This shabad is available to listen to on Sikhnet Play as well as Apple/Spotify music services.
The film follows three stories of people who face different life struggles, the themes are: domestic abuse, grief, and financial stress. Through their encounters with Gurbani, they find hope, healing, and courage to overcome their difficulties. We chose these themes as they are the most prevalent in our community and wider – therefore we need to raise awareness as much as possible to start to begin to solve these challenges.
The film was released on 21st July on YouTube and has received positive and heartfelt feedback and appreciation from viewers thus far. The film was directed by Gurjant Singh (@NewLionFilms) a uber talented film director and producer and features, Chanbir Kaur (@delhimomlondon, Rupinder Kaur Waraich (@rupinderkw) and Sunny Singh Grewel (@sunnyandshay) as the three main characters.
You can watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZHDhrwbzPc
Chanbir Kaur Music is music label run by the couple; Avtar Singh (@TheSikhCoach) and Chanbir Kaur (@DelhiMomLondon), they had a vision of producing music and visual content to promote Sikh values, our Panjabi culture as well as raise awareness about community issues/challenges. They have a clear mission to create a legacy that will inspire million’s to be proud of their Sikh heritage/teachings and preserve their cultural Panjabi identity in a fast-paced evolving world.
Story Theme 1: Domestic Abuse
In light of recent news showing a staggering 40% increase in violence against women, our short film "Aisa Naam" couldn't be timelier. Alarming statistics reveal that 1 in 12 women in #England and #wales will be a victim of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) each year. Yet, many domestic abuse cases remain unreported, with the estimated true figure being around 2.1 million, compared to 890,000 reported cases in the year ending March 2023.
"Aisa Naam" aims to shine a spotlight on this pervasive issue, particularly within the Sikh and South Asian communities.
This is not just a statistic, it's a reality for many women.
Through our film, we want to raise awareness and encourage conversations about domestic abuse, urging more victims to come forward and seek help.
Filming this was intense, especially the scenes portraying the abuse.
Shoutout to Rayn @rayn0121 who delivered a powerful performance as the perpetrator - his talent truly brought the story to life.
We hope our film not only inspires but also empowers those experiencing domestic abuse to reach out for support.
Watch, share, and help us spread the message. Together, we can make a difference.
We are fortunate enough to have an organisation called Sikh Women's Aid who has been supporting women in our community affected by Domestic Abuse and Violence - do reach out them for support or to learn more about their services/impact and please donate to support this essential service.
Film Director -@gurjantsinghfilms @newlionfilms
Music Director- @tablafusionist
Soundtrack Singers@tajinder_kaur.12 &@delhimomlondon Story-@delhimomlondon@thesikhcoach @gurjantsinghfilms
Story Theme 2: Financial Stress
Our short film "Aisa Naam" delves into another pressing issue faced by many in our community – financial stress. The second story follows our main character played by Sunny Singh Grewal @sunnyandshay as he loses his job and grapples with the immense pressure of finding work again. His journey is a testament to resilience and faith, showcasing how hope and determination can help us navigate through the toughest times.
This narrative is a powerful reminder of the real-life struggles many endure. With unwavering faith, our character perseveres, ultimately finding a new role and regaining stability. He uses the power of prayer (Ardas), a supplication to the almighty to ask for strength to deal with the challenge he is facing.
Financial difficulties and mental health problems are interrelated and are heightened in ethnic minority communities. Members of minority communities face a “double stigma” where it is difficult to discuss money and mental wellbeing challenges.
We aim to highlight the importance of staying strong and keeping faith even when faced with financial hardships. There is support out there and sometimes it is about raising awareness of confidential free services that are available for those who may be suffering with financial stress, some of these are below:
Sikh Helpline – @sikhhelpline call 03000 3000 63 for support
Mind charity – @mindcharity call 0300 222 5782 to speak to Welfare Benefits Line
Samaritans – @samaritanscharity call 116 123 for free for support
National Debt Helpline – call 0808 808 4000 for support
Stepchange – call 0800 138 111 for free for support
Story Theme 3: Grief
The final story in our short film "Aisa Naam" touches on one of the most profound experiences in life – grief. This is something that we will all face in life. In this segment, we follow Rupinder @rupinderkw as she navigates the heart-wrenching journey of losing her sister.
Grief is an overwhelming emotion that affects us all differently. It can feel like a deep, unending sorrow, but through faith and support, healing is possible. Rupinder's story is a touching reminder of the power of faith in helping us cope with the loss of a loved one. Her journey shows us that while the pain of loss may never fully disappear, faith can provide comfort, strength, and a path towards finding peace.
Our film seeks to offer solace and understanding to anyone experiencing grief. We hope Rupinder's story resonates with you and serves as a reminder that, even in our darkest moments, we are not alone and that this is a challenging but essential part of our lives.
Watch "Aisa Naam" to explore this touching narrative and share it with those who may need a message of hope and faith.
There are some organisations that offer support in the UK for those who are dealing with grief such as:
Cruse support - @crusesupport
Atalosscharity - @atalosscharity
National Bereavement Service – 0800 0246 121
The Good Grief Trust - @thegoodgrieftrust
Samaritans - @samaritanscharity