In India, Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer has been criticised as a “direct assault” on Hinduism.
The biopic follows J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, and his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb.
He co-stars with Matt Damon in the role of Leslie Groves, Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Lewis Strauss, Florence Pugh in the role of Jean Tatlock, and Emily Blunt in the role of his wife, Kitty Oppenheimer.
A sex scene between Oppenheimer and Tatlock in which we hear his famous phrase – ‘Now I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds’ – is supposed to be what the real-life Oppenheimer thought as the first nuclear weapon exploded is included in the film.
The remark is from the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism’s most sacred writings, which appears in the scenario.
As a result, the film has become a target for Hindu nationalists, who have criticised the inclusion of the book in the bawdy scene.
Uday Mahurkar, the Indian government’s information commissioner, tweeted Nolan personally to express his displeasure and outrage about the film.
‘It has come to our notice that the movie “Oppenheimer” contains a scene which makes a scathing attack on Hinduism,’ he began.
‘As per social media reports, a scene in the movie shows a woman making a man read Bhagwad Geeta aloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse. She is holding Bhagwad Geeta in one hand, and the other hand seems to be adjusting the position of their reproductive organs.
‘The Bhagwad Geeta is one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism. Geeta has been the inspiration for countless sanyasis, brahmcharis, and legends who live a life of self-control and perform selfless noble deeds.’
He then went on to question the ‘motivation and logic’ behind the ‘unnecessary scene’ and branded it a ‘direct assault’ on the religion.
. @OppenheimerATOM
To,
Mr Christopher Nolan
Director , Oppenheimer filmDate : July 22, 2023
Reg: Film Oppenheimer’s disturbing attack on Hinduism
Dear Mr Christopher Nolan,
Namaste from Save Culture Save India Foundation.
It has come to our notice that the movie…
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) July 22, 2023
Mahurkar continued: ‘We do not know the motivation and logic behind this unnecessary scene on the life of a scientist. But this is a direct assault on the religious beliefs of a billion tolerant Hindus, rather it amounts to waging a war on the Hindu community and almost appears to be part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces.
‘We are living in a very polarised world. The agencies, media, politics, and even your Hollywood film industry are very sensitive about the fact that the Quran and Islam are not depicted in any manner that may offend the value system of a common Muslim, even if you make something based on Islamist terrorism. There is a term that has become popular for those who attempt to cross this red line – Islamophobia.
‘Why should not the same courtesy be also extended to Hindus?’
He then went on to ask for the scene to be removed from the film, saying it will gift him the ‘friendship of billions of nice people.’
‘You have great admiration in India for your art of filmmaking. We believe that if you remove this scene and do the needful to win hearts of Hindus, it will go a long way to establish your credentials as a sensitized human being and gift you friendship of billions of nice people,’ he wrote.
‘We urge, on behalf of billion Hindus and timeless tradition of lives being transformed by revered Geeta, to do all that is needed to uphold the dignity of their revered book and remove this scene from your film across the world.
‘Should you choose to ignore this appeal it would be deemed as a deliberate assault on Indian civilisation.’
He ended the lengthy post by saying he will ‘eagerly await needful action’ and sending him warm regards.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also condemned the film, calling it a ‘disturbing attack on Hinduism’ and accusing it of being ‘part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces.’
Despite this, Oppenheimer had a good opening weekend and mostly positive reviews, with Metro.co.uk describing it as “a tense and twisting cerebral blockbuster that demands its audience to think along with the picture.”
Source My Celebrity Life.