Oppenheimer's Quote From Hindu Scripture Receives Backlash in India

Publish date: Tuesday، 25 July 2023

Christopher Nolan's nuclear arms biopic 'Oppenheimer' quotes a Hindu scripture that has received severe backlash on social media in India.

The protagonist, played by Cillian Murphy, recites a verse from the Bhagavad Gita to his lover Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh, during an intimate scene.

Tatlock opens the copy of the Hindu scripture and asks Oppenheimer to read from it. He reads the verse "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds".

The quote was reportedly repeated by Oppenheimer when the first nuclear bomb was detonated.

The film was released on Friday, Jul. 21 in India and was rated U/A by the country's Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

The nationalist organization Save Culture Save India Foundation said "This should be investigated ... on an urgent basis and those involved should be severely punished".

The organization's founder Uday Mahurkar criticized the scene in a lengthy tweet, which has already received 5, 576 retweets.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur instructed the film-makers to remove the scene immediately and the members of the CBFC will held accountable for it.

In another tweet, Mahurkar stated "#SaveCultureSaveIndia Foundation welcomes prompt action by @ianuragthakur ji against [the] horrendous depiction of Bhagwad Geeta in Oppenheimer film. While the nation feels relieved it awaits equally prompt action from director Christopher Nolan so that the scene is removed worldwide."

Universal Pictures India, the local unit of the film's producers, and the country's film certification board have not provided any comments.

The film 'Oppenheimer' has grossed about $7.33 million from Friday, Jul. 21 until Monday, Jul. 24 in India.

Image source: IMDb

Oppenheimer's Quote From Hindu Scripture Receives Backlash in India

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