A Sikh advocacy group in the US has served a legal notice to Miramax Films for releasing a movie that allegedly associates the Sikh community with Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden.

The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) noted the film 'brazenly exploits and perpetuates ignorant stereotypes that have life-threatening consequences in the recent past'.

SMART alleged that Miramax's latest release Dysfunktional Family shows an elderly Sikh person being vilified as Osama bin Laden by standup comedian and lead actor Eddie Griffin. As a turbaned person walks out of a scene in the movie, Griffin points out to him, saying, "bin Laden! I knew he was around here."

The trailer of the film was shown at movie theatres across the US, and SMART has complained to Miramax saying that making the connection between Sikhs and bin Laden reinforces the common misconception that Sikhs are extremists.

SMART had requested a meeting with Miramax to discuss the issue before its release on April 4. In subsequent phone conversations with a Miramax publicist, SMART expressed its concerns and requested a screening of the film prior to its release.

Miramax Saturday responded to SMART, saying it believed that reasonable viewers would not associate Sikhs with Osama bin Laden. Miramax's also letter argued that members of other religions wear turbans and sport beards and that the film was a work of creative expression and was fully protected by the First Amendment.

Earlier, SMART said while it recognises the First Amendment rights of movie studios to produce intellectual property, it would like to ensure such a representation does not perpetuate stereotypes of Sikhs as terrorists which have led to hate crimes against members of the community following September 11.

A SMART statement said, "We intend to discuss these issues with Miramax representatives, specifically stressing that the vast majority of turbaned Americans are indeed Sikhs. While SMART recognizes the right to free expression, we firmly believe that Miramax needs to demonstrate corporate and moral responsibility."