A sex scene in filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, in which the protagonist Cillian Murphy (playing the titular character of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer) could be seen making out while reading Bhagavad Gita, has angered a section of the Hindu audience who slammed the Indian Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for allowing its retention in the version released in India.
A group named Save Culture Save India Foundation issued a statement to express their displeasure over the movie scene and said: "It has come to the notice of Save Culture Save India Foundation that the movie Oppenheimer which was released on 21st July contains scenes which make a scathing attack on Hinduism."
"A scene in the movie shows a woman makes a man read Bhagwad Geeta (Bhagavad Gita) aloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse," read the statement.
"A divine gift to human civilisation by Bhagwan Sri Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita, is one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism. Gita has been the inspiration for countless sanyasis, brahmacharis (celebates) and legends who live a life of self-control and perform selfless noble deeds," it said.
"One is perplexed as to how the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) could approve the movie with this scene," read the statement.
The statement further said: "The Foundation urges, on behalf of the public of this nation and timeless tradition of lives being transformed by revered Geeta [Gita], the I & B Ministry to do all that is needed to uphold dignity of the revered holy book of the Hindus, punish those involved and setting processes in place that such things do not happen in future."
The release was shared on Twitter by Uday Mahurkar, Information Commissioner with the government of India.
Christopher Nolan directed Oppenheimer released on Friday.
For the first time in over two decades, Nolan delivers an R-rated film, a move that is justified given the mature theme explored in "Oppenheimer". R rating is for films that are not suitable to be seen by children because of violence, offensive language, or sexual activity.
The Motion Picture Association of America granted the R-rating due to some sexuality, nudity, and strong language, especially in a pivotal sex scene between Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh, who portray psychiatrist Jean Tatlock. This exploration of Oppenheimer's complex personal life adds depth to the narrative, painting a more realistic and human portrayal of the historical figure.
Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project, and thereby ushering in the Atomic Age.
Cillian Murphy stars as the titular character, with Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer's wife, Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer, Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves, Oppenheimer's military handler, and Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a senior member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Other members of the supporting cast include Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.