THE REVIEW OF THE BIOPIC ON BHAGWAN GOPI NATH RELEASED ON 8TH MARCH 2025

                                                 

   

               

THE REVIEW OF THE BIOPIC ON BHAGWAN GOPI NATH (1898-1968) RELEASED ON 8TH MARCH, 2025 AT JAMMU

 

“Na takht o taaj mein na lashkar I sipaah mein hai

Jo baat mard e qalandhar ki baargaah mein hai....”

 

(A monarch’s pomp and mighty arms can never give such glee,

As can be felt in the presence of a Qalandar bold and free.)

 

Bhagwan Gopi Nath was a mystic, Siddha, saint and spiritualist of the 20th century Kashmir. He remains the most revered saint among Kashmiri Pandits with his Ashrams at Srinagar, Jammu, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Ghaziabad, Kanga, Pune and some more locations in the country. Bhagwan Gopinath lived a very confined life and avoided glare and publicity. Hardly did he ever move out from the Kashmir valley. He was known as Aghoreshwar, and he mostly preferred to remain silent. For those who came to see him, he was an ocean of compassion and care. Never did he look at their caste, creed, colour or beliefs.

Bhagwan Gopinath belonged to the Bhan family from Bhana Mohalla in Srinagar city. His father Pandit Narayan Joo Bhan was a Pashmina trader. From childhood, Bhagwan Gopinath exhibited detachment from the world and habitually visited the abode of goddess Sharika at Hari Parbat. After completing his education at the ‘Christian Missionary Society’ school of Fateh Kadal in Srinagar city, he joined Vishinath Press as a compositor. After some time, he opened a shop in downtown and later in Sekidafar. Finally he renounced the worldly activities and focused on Ishwar Sadhana. He lived in some houses but at every place, he kept a dhoni (sacred fire) burning before him and offered oblations into it. He also engaged himself in the unending process of Naam-Japa using every breath without murmuring a word for others to listen. He performed penance at many sacred places in Kashmir include Khrew ( Jwala Ji ), Hari Parbat ( Sharika Devi ) , Kheer Bhawani ( Ragnya Devi ) , Ishber , Pushkar Raj Bhairav , Bhadrakali Temple near Handwara , Zyeshta Devi , Martand Temple , Pokhribal Temple , Gautamnag , Vichaarnag etc. Some select devotees always accompanied him on these pilgrimages.

Through his miracles and blessings, he remained a great benefactor of Kashmiris in general. In 1947, he is believed to have assured his apprehensive disciples to convey to people in general that the tribal raiders would never enter Srinagar city. As his name and fame spread, many spiritual Gurus from the country would visit him but he always avoided publicity and glare. He remained confined to his own Sadhana and Naam-Japa before the ever-burning Dhooni. Amongst his devotees, one can include Justice Shiv Nath Katju of Allahabad High Court. Modern Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant also wrote a poem on Bhagwan Gopinath. Bhagwan Gopinath Knew Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit. He could also read and write Sharada script. He was a connoisseur of classical music and many Bhajan Mandalis performed before him. Pandit Ved Lal Dhar and Sufiana singer Mohammad Abdullah Tibetbaqaal would also perform before him.

The present biopic titled” Sarvavyapak: Bhagwan Gopinathji” is based on the biography of Bhagwan Gopinath written by S N Fotedar. The script and screenplay (in English) for the film have been written by Padamshri Pran Kishore Kaul. There could have been no better person to write the script and story than Pran Kishore Kaul who apart from being the pioneer of radio drama, has also successfully scripted some very popular serials for television, including Gul Gulshan Gulfam. ‘Maenzraat’, the first Kashmiri feature

film directed by Pran Kishore Kaul, received ‘Silver Peacock’. The stage adaptation of poet Dina Nath Nadim’s opera ‘Bombur ta Yemberzal ‘was superbly directed by him and shown to the Russian delegation in December 1955 in Srinagar. The Russian delegation included Marshal Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev. He also directed the stage adaptation of ‘Vitasta’ opera scripted by Dina Nath Nadim. The opera was performed in various cities of the country and it won rave reviews in print media everywhere. Pran Kishore Kaul, known as the master of his craft, especially theatre, drama and films has pooled his creative energy even at this advanced age to make this biopic something that is going to enthuse, appeal and captivate the audience. About the film, Pran Kishore Kaul said this:-

“When Sanjay Kaul ( producer )  and Jaya Patwari ( trustee of Bhagwan Gopinath Ashram )  entrusted the task of making this biopic to me  , there were many difficulties . Hardly anything detailed had been written about Bhagwan Ji’s life and work. His first line of devotees were no longer living. People only spoke about some miracles with no authenticity or source. Fortunately, I saw S N Fotedar’s book on Bhagwan Ji and heaved a sigh of relief. I read many books, interviewed many people and grasped his life story and work and then set to write the script and finally the screenplay. I have always believed in the team that I built over the years. They came at the first call almost free. We spotted our actors from gatherings and acquaintances. Most of them are first-time actors. They are engineers and technocrats. Bhagwan Ji’s role was played by a young boy from Jagti, Jammu who was recommended by Makhan Lal Saraf. Waheed Jeelani, Raja Bilal, Kishen Ji Langoo, Vir Ji Sumbly, Dilip Langoo, Abhay Rustom Sopori, K K Raina, Vijay Mattoo, Saurabh Zadoo, Sanjay Nahar and many came without a fee. We have done something impossible in a meagre budget.”

Pran Kishore Kaul has used four popular Leelas or devotional songs of Mahatma Krishen Joo Razdan in his biopic "Sarvavyapak: Bhagwan Gopi Nath Ji ". These are:-

(1)

 "gatta tsajji gash aav chaane zennai

Jai jai jai devki Nandanai"

 

( Darkness has withered away and light has spread all around upon your birth.

Victory, victory and victory to you, O son of Devki )

 

(2)

 " hosh dim lagayo pamposh paadan

ha saadan haendh  saadho  lo "

 

( Grant me awareness, my life at your lotus feet

O highest one among all the saints ). This composition of Mahatma Krishen Joo Razdan is based on Rishi Vasugupta's Shiv Sutra, "Awareness is the knowledge".

 

( 3)

"beil ta maadal venna gulaab pamposh dastai

poozai laagas param shivas shiv nathastai.."

 

(For your pooja archana,

 I bring bundles of beil patra,

 maadal flowers, herbs,

roses  and lotus flowers,

O Param Shiva

O Shiv Natha .)

 

(4)

" Aadhaar zagtuk kunuyi chhu mantar

Shivai namoh om namoh shivai "

 

( This universe is founded only on one Mantra,

' Shivaye Namoh Om Namoh Shivaye " )

 

In this biopic, apart from the above devotional songs, Pran Kishore Kaul has also picturised a great scene in which women are shown singing Adi Sankara's famous Devi stuti, " gauri amba ambur hakshe aham -eide" while Bhagwan Gopinath Ji is performing a Homa.  The  Shiv Leela of poet Radhe Nath Masarat," chaane darshan kuyi chhum haavas shankar naavas pooza chheyi " has also been picturised with Bhagwan Ji performing Homa using the ever-burning Dhoni (  sacred fire ) before him. And Bhagwan Ji is shown giving whatever money he has with him to the Sadhus proceeding on the Amarnath Yatra. In this biopic, one also hears Henze Vanvun, a group singing practised by Kashmiri Pandits in marriages and  Yageopavit( sacred thread ) ceremonies and linked to Sama Vedic chants. We are shown Pandit Ved Lal Dhar Vakil, Jagan Nath Shivpuri, Mohammad Abdullah Tibetbaqal,   singing in the Darbaar of Bhagwan Gopinath who himself was a connoisseur of Hindustani classical and Kashmiri Sufiana music rendered with soothing beats of Santoor. Kudos to Pran Kishore Kaul for bringing Santoor maestro Abhay Rustom  Sopori for the background music. Pran Kishore Kaul has also brought in Kishen Ji Langoo, his old associate at  Pragaash Productions ( a production company of Pran Kishore Kaul  ) to score music of  Leelas and devotional songs for the film. The orchestration by Saurabh Zadoo, Raja Bilal, Waheed Jheelani and Dilip Langoo was at Pran Kishore Kaul’s specific request. Dilip Langoo has also contributed as an actor. The cinematography by Avinash Satoskar is equally superb. Arun Mavanoor as co-director of the project has also brought some of the latest techniques into the project. Vir Ji Sumbli as art director and actor needs appreciation.

The film was premiered and released on 8th March 2025 by Bhagwan Gopinath Trust at the Abhinav Theatre Jammu with  Shri Atal Dulloo IAS, Chief Secretary J&K UT being the Chief Guest of the event. It is currently being shown in some cinema halls in Jammu. Tickets are available at Bhagwan Gopinath Trust, Udhaywala, Jammu. Watch this labour of love on a bigger screen to have some unforgettable cinemascope feel and satisfaction. We are informed that Kashmiri version of the biopic is also ready. Many many more creative years to Pran Kishore Kaul. He has done something impossible at his age.

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.