From Godman to Action-Man: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s Filmy Journey
Gurmeet Ram Rahim may be facing trial in a rape case, but his social media handles only talk about his new film.
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“Koi humme sant kehta hai, koi kehta hai farishta
Koi kehta hai guru, toh koi kehta hai bhagwaan,
Lekin hum toh hain sirf ek Insaan.”
He stands tall and spouts dialogues that rhyme, dressed in a floral tank top that is laden with bling as the wind whips his long hair onto his face. At first glance, you’d be forgiven for failing to recognise the protagonist of the MSG films for what he is – a self-styled godman who claims to have over five crore followers.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan, or MSG as he is known, has not one but five films to his credit.
And as Punjab and Haryana brace for violent riots, that may break out in light of a verdict in a rape case that has gone against him, ‘Papaji’, as he is known, is preparing to release his sixth film – MSG Online Gurukul.
Catch all the live updates on Ram Rahim’s rape case verdict here.
As in the other MSG films, MSGOnlineGurukul too credits the self-styled godman for a range of credentials – ranging from actor, director and writer to “makeup director”. Here’s a quick recap of his filmography so far:
MSG: Messenger of God (2015)
Film Tagline: “Meet the only braveheart saint of India”
Ram Rahim Singh made his silver screen debut in February 2015 with the film MSG: Messenger of God. According to IMDb, the plotline of the film revolves around a social reformer who fights the evils that plague society,
His website describes the film as: “a revolutionary film that’s packed with action, high drama, suspense and stunts performed by a real-life spiritual master – Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan”
The film grabbed headlines nationwide over the controversial quitting of then censor board chief Leela Samson after an appeals board approved the film despite the CBFC turning it down citing that it 'promotes superstition'.
According to BBC, the film encountered halls full of Singh's supporters who had come to watch their guru appear on the big screen. Critics bashed the film for being “excruciatingly awful”, with Reuters' Shilpa Jamkhandikar going on to say: “it's so bad, it's good”.
Meanwhile, a Times of India report busted reports that the film made Rs 100 crore at the box office, quoting Bollywoodlife.com sources saying that Singh was eventually forced to buy bulk tickets after theaters remained empty at a stretch.
Also, no trade analysts are believed to have given a box office number for this film.
MSG-2: The Messenger (2015)
Film Tagline: “The Messenger is Back”
The sequel sees MSG playing a saxophone, while wearing a bright yellow sequinned jacket that bears the words 'Royal Rock Star'.
The film, which claims to be “based on true events,” sees MSG Singh play the role of a warrior who fights what are supposed to be tribals and converts them into what he calls “civilised human beings”. The striking thing about this film is the Pahlaj Nahlani-led CBFC’s decision to pass the words ‘animals’ and ‘savages’ that are used to describe the people that MSG attempts to “transform”.
The film released a mere seven months after the first film did, and according to a press statement released by Singh’s Dera Saccha Sauda, it collected Rs 275 crore by the third week.
MSG The Warrior- Lion Heart (2016)
This film, directed by “baap beti ki jodi” as the trailer states, also stars MSG’s daughter Honey Preet Insan. MSG plays a “top secret agent” who is on a mission to fight “aliens from outer space who pose a threat to the planet and womenfolk”.
Amid chants of ‘sher dil, sher dil’, Singh performs gravity-defying stunts as he takes on aliens who look like human beings, only dressed in light-bulb infused jackets. The film is described on his website as a film that has “many social messages woven, the foremost about respecting women in the society”.
According to the Times of India, the film earned a total of Rs 5.75 crore, in its first week.
Hind Ka NaPak Ko Jawab (2017)
Film Tagline: "He is back with more power”
Hind ka Napak Ko Jawab, the second installment to MSG Lionheart, hit the screens in February this year. It features MSG in the role of an Indian spy named ‘Sher-e-hind’, who launches surgical strikes on Pakistan as an act of revenge.
This film also sees the self-styled godman Baba Ram Rahim in a romantic avatar, dressed in a purple suit with matching purple sunglasses, doing push-ups as his lady-love looks on. The film also features a flying car and a watch that acts as a bomb, among several mind-boggling contraptions.
Jattu Engineer (2017)
Film Tagline: “Shakti ka bhandaar… Triple S”
In his latest outing, MSG tries his hand at a comic role as Shakti Singh Sisodia, a teacher set on reforming his village, the residents of which are addicted to drugs. Much like his other films, this one is also a relentless saga glorifying the victory of good over evil.
The comedy here includes fart jokes, poking fun at the lack of language skills and weak slapstick comedy. MSG has been credited 42 times in the film.
With the first look of his sixth venture MSG: Online Gurukul out just ahead of a crucial verdict, one can’t help but wonder – just how far will this man go to defy cinematic conventions?
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