The Review of the Biopic on Bhagwan Gopi Nath (1898-1968) released on 8th March, 2025 at Jammu 

 

Na takht o taajmeinsa Lashkar I sipaahmeinhai Jo baatmard e qalandhar ki baargaahmeinhai A memarch's pomp and wetghly arme 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 amily from Bhana Mohalla in Srinagar city. His ather Pandit Narayan Joo Bhan was a Pashmina ader From childhood, Bhagwan Gopinath habited detachment from the world and habitually visited the abode of goddess Sharika at Hari Parbat. After completing his education at the 'Christian Missionary Society Srinagar city, he joined Vishinath Press as a compositor. After some ARVAWARAK school of Fateh Kadal in time, he opened a shop in downtown and later in Sekidalar. 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 (Jwalaji), Hari Parbat (SharikaDevi), Kheer Bhawani (Ragnya Devi), shber, Pushkar Raj Bhairav, Bhadrakali Temple near Handwara, Zyeshta Devi, Martand Temple, l'okhribal 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 o 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 Mandal is performed before him. Pandit Ved Lal Dhar and Sufiana singer Mohammad Abdullah Tibetbagsal would al perform before him The present biopic titled Sarvavyapaki Bhagwan Gopinath is hissed on the biography of Bhagwan Gopinath written by S N Fotedar. The script and screenplay (in English) for the film have been written by Padamahri Pran Kishore Kaul. There could have been no better person to write the script and story than whe apart from being the pe Pran Kushite Kaula also successfully scripted some very popular serials for television, including Gul Gulshan Gulfam. Maenzrast', the first Kashmiri feature film directed by Pran Kishore Kael, reorived Slver 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 Khrushches. 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 Pat Wari (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 lines of devotees were no longer living. People only spoke about some miracles with no authenticity or source. Fortunately, I saw 5 N Fotedar's book on Mhagwani and have a g many books interviewed many poste charged his life story and worth wise the script and finally the screenplay 16 always believed in tetram that biet the Fears They came of the first call on putted our actors from gathering PH acquaintances Most of them are actors They are engineers and tenden Bhagwan fins role was played by you from Sauti laminu who was recommended S Makhan Lal Saraf Waheed Zeeland Ra Kishen Ji Lange, Viri Sumbly. Di Lan Abhay Rustam Soporn K. Raina, Very Mam Sourabh Zadoo Saray Nahar and merca without a fee. We have done somethin impossible in a meagte 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 tsajp gash aav chaane zennai Jai jai jai devki Nandanai" (Darkness has withered away and light has spread all around upon your birth. Victory and victory to you, O son of Draki) "hosh dim lager pamposh paadan (2) ha saadan haendh saadho lo”Get your las fort highest one among all the sainte) This composition of Mahatma Krishen Joo Razdan is based on Rishi Vasugupta's Shiv Sutra, "Awareness is the knowledge ilta Magdalena gulaab pamposh detai pozat shivas shiv nathau For your pooje archana bring bundles of beilpatra, Mandal Rowers, herb yes and letses flowers, Param Shiva O Shie Natha (4) "Aadhaar zagtuk kurmuyi chhu mantar Shivai namoh om namoh shivai (This universe le founded only on one Mantra, Showye Namoh Om Namah Shivaye") SARVAVY 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 koyi chhum haavas shankar naavias pooza chheys" has also been pictarised with Bhagwan Ji performing Homs using the ever-buming Dhoni (sacrestfire) before him. And Bhagwanh hwn giving whatever money he has with him to the Sadhus proceeding on the Amarnath Yatra. In this biopic, one also hears Henze Vienvun, a group singing practised by Kashmiri Pandits in marriages and Yagnopavit (sacred threa ceremonies and linked to Sama Vedic chants. We are shown Pandit Ved Lal Dhar Vakil Jagan Nath Shivpuri, Mohammad Abdullah Tibetbagal, singing in the Darsaar 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 Pragsash 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 Sheelani and Dilip Langoo was at Pran Kishore Kaul's specific request. Dali 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 more creative years to Pran Kishore Kaul. He has done something impossible at his age 55

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Courtesy: Avtar Mota Koshur Samachar-2025 , April