Backlash against "Oppenheimer" over private Bhagavad Gita scene

 

Scenes from the Oppenheimer film, which starred Cillian Murph as J. Robert Oppenheimer, featured the physicist's romance with Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh. Before the movie ever came out, Nolan received his first R classification in 20 years for the inclusion of sex scenes with nudity and sexuality. According to Nolan, the private moments were essential to correctly portraying Oppenheimer's life, especially his interpersonal connections.

Hindus were ecstatic a few weeks ago when it was reported that Murphy had read the Gita to prepare for his role. When they saw the movie, their pride quickly turned to disappointment. A user criticized the "disrespectful" situation on Twitter. A tweet stated, "Having a sacred book used in a sex scene is highly inappropriate."

"Never thought Nolan would incorporate Oppenheimer's allusions to Gita and Sanskrit. I assumed he would disregard the topic because I was still wondering what had caused him to put those things where they belonged. I was utterly shocked when I first saw that on the television.

Another commenter agreed, saying, "The sex scene with Jean was nothing short of a mockery of our holy text."

When Oppenheimer was published in India, the sex scene but not the Bhagavad Gita reference was obscured, which increased the debate. Some users said that the scene qualifies as "blasphemy."

"I'm calling for a boycott of the movie Oppenheimer," one user remarked. I recently discovered that it contains a scenario regarding the Bhagavad Gita that is really insulting. It involves something explicit, but I won't say what it is again here. Never rely on Western media to accurately and positively portray Hinduism.

While some supported the choice by arguing that the individuals in the movie merely saw the book as "Sanskrit," not "holy," others questioned the scene's historical truth and necessity. Few even debated whether the Sanskrit text's translation was accurate or not.

Despite the debate, it's crucial to recognize that Oppenheimer places a high value on the Bhagavad Gita in his life. The Gita was particularly significant to the physicist since he had a strong interest in prehistoric Hindu writings. Even in the movie, Oppenheimer responds to seeing the terrible power of the atomic weapon he helped develop by quoting from the Gita. He declares, "Now I am Death, destroyer of worlds."

This historical accuracy is based on Oppenheimer's own comments, who later said that he thought of this Gita passage when he first witnessed the atomic bomb's explosion.

Oppenheimer attempts to convey the physicist's true affinity for Hinduism, but it is debatable if the personal scene in which Tatlock implores Murphy's character to recite the Bhagavad Gita should have been included. Oppenheimer emphasizes the necessity for filmmakers to handle intimate scenes and religious issues with greater sensitivity and respect as the dispute develops. It also calls into question how Hollywood depicts religious elements of any society on film.