Oppenheimer sparks a huge controversy after condemning sex scene containing ‘sacred text’
A sex scene shown in Oppenheimer between Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh has caused controversy within the Hinduism community after the shot included sacred text from the Bhagavad Gita.
Oppenheimer: Official trailer (2023)
Christopher Nolan's new blockbuster Oppenheimer has caused an uproar after it included Hinduism's sacred text in a racy sex scene between J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy) and Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh).
The script, which includes a phrase from the Bhagavad Gita, has been dubbed a “direct assault” on the religion as angered followers have threatened to boycott the film.
The scene in question shows Oppenheimer's wife asking him to read out the scripture while they share an intimate moment.
Her request leads him to recite a line he is known to use to describe his pivotal involvement in the development of the atomic bomb: “I am become death, destroyer of worlds.”
However, the use of the text hasn't sat well with Uday Mahurkar, the founder of the Save Culture Save India Foundation, who has since written an open letter to filmmaker Christopher.
In his letter, Uday claimed Nolan’s decision to include the scripture in the film was “a scathing attack on Hinduism” and went as far as to say it was part of an “anti-Hindu conspiracy”.
“We do not know the motivation and logic behind this unnecessary scene on life of a scientist. But this is a direct assault on religious beliefs of a billion tolerant Hindus,” he stated.
Before adding: “It amounts to waging a war on the Hindu community and almost appears to be part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces," he then went on to demand that Christopher should remove the scene from his film.
Uday, who, according to his LinkedIn, is also a Hindu government official and holds the position of Information Commissioner, informed that if Nolan did “choose to ignore this appeal it would be deemed as a deliberate assault on Indian civilization”.
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Fans, who follow the Hindu religion have also taken the time to express their upset at the scene on social media.
Taking to Twitter @PoojariRavindra discussed the “displeasure” of the scene while insisting “the scene should be cut from the movie”.
Another user @jpthomas1996 added: “Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagavad Gita was cultural appropriate, but y’all are not ready for that conversation.” (sic)
With a third user @AnkitaSharma_26 sharing: “This is reprehensible. The producers of this movie must apologize publicly.”
. @OppenheimerATOM
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) July 22, 2023
To,
Mr Christopher Nolan
Director , Oppenheimer film
Date : 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…
However, some users defended Nolan’s decision to include the religious verse.
@asheem pointed out: “This is the most ridiculous claim - no one in their right mind who saw a 20-second reference to a Sanskrit verse will take it as a slur on Hinduism - the scene merely dramatized the perversity of Oppenheimer.”
While @wittysankalp said: “Unnecessary. Saw the movie yesterday... The 20 sec scene although uncomfortable, did not demean or debase our Culture in any way.”
And @HaraniT penned: “The scene doesn’t even mention what the book is. Just the Sanskrit writing on a page. And if it truly happened then it’s part of the story that is being told.”
Christopher Nolan is yet to address the claims made by Uday Mahurkar.
