We are deeply offended by a scene in the Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood movie Oppenheimer that shows the eponymous character having sex while reading out verses from The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered and sacred Hindu scriptures. As representatives of one of the oldest and the largest American Hindu organizations, we strongly urge the producers of the film and the distributor, Universal Pictures to remove the shloka from the movie.
A shloka is a sacred verse from Hindu scriptures that carries profound spiritual significance to the Hindus. It is not merely a piece of background music to be used for dramatic effect in a movie; rather, it holds immense religious sanctity and is meant to be recited with utmost respect and reverence. By using the shloka from the Bhagavad Gita without the appropriate religious context, the producers of “Oppenheimer” are trivializing and commodifying a central aspect of Hindu spirituality. This not only shows a lack of understanding of the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Hindu community but also amounts to cultural appropriation, which is deeply disrespectful and offensive.
As consumers and supporters of the entertainment industry, we call on the producers of “Oppenheimer” to uphold the principles of cultural sensitivity and religious respect by promptly removing the shloka from the movie. AHAD is launching an online campaign to advocate for the removal of the scene.
43 Comments
Weather it’s real Life or inspired from Life, but it’s a story of great scientist and his acknowledgement with Bhagawad Gita. That’s true. His acknowledgement is related with his scientific research and not with his personal sexual Life. The way it’s shown in the movie is not the way scientist was related. So you must ammend the relation of them in the movie or ypu must remove objectionable content, which anyway doesn’t affect the story folw.
Inappropriate scene in Oppenheimer for Bhagavad Gita quotation hurts Hindus.
T
The director abused a hindu religious shloka by demeaning its portrayal with obscene scenes.
I am a Hindu
This is a religious issue and can be used by the people of the Hindu faith for their religious work. This is work and should not be used here. I am a proud Hindu.
Such misuse of religious shlokas shows vengeance and disrespect for entire Hindu community. Please immediately suspend showcasing until edited. Thank you
Shrimad Bhagavadgita is a very sacred book of Hindus and an inspiration to many generations from all Dharmic and religious followers who believe in the upliftment of the people and discharging their duties to the world. If you can’t respect it , atleast do not denigrate it. It is like insulting everyone who respects duty abiding people of the world.
Find the quoting of Sanskrit verses from Hindus sacred scripture very offensive and insensitive. It could have been quoted several other times in the movie but choosing it during intimate scenes seems like trivialising the language, culture and the scripture.
This my Dharm.