MOVIE NEWS – The sex scenes in the movie “Oppenheimer” evoked different emotions from the viewers, especially when the Bhagavad Gita played a role in one of them. This publication of the holy document was seen as disrespectful to the Hindu audience, resulting in calls for a boycott. The use of the holy book in a sexual context caused outrage and reactions that were considered blasphemous. While some defended the use of the Bhagavad Gita, saying that the characters do not consider it sacred, others criticized the historical authenticity and necessity of the scene.

“Oppenheimer” stirred scandals even before its premiere, as it is Christopher Nolan’s first R-rated film in twenty years, due to sexuality and nudity. This is Nolan’s first work that includes a sex scene, but the director believed that this realistic depiction was necessary for the story, especially to authentically reproduce the relationship between J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). Despite this, some viewers found the scenes offensive.

Viewers of the film took to Twitter to share their outrage over the use of the Bhagavad Gita. User @HarrisSultan called the film disrespectful for using the holy book in a sex scene.

It came as a surprise to some viewers that when “Oppenheimer” was released in India, the sex scene was blacked out, but the Bhagavad Gita reference remained, even though it was potentially blasphemous.

Hindus have been celebrating the mention of the Bhagwad Gita in the Oppenheimer movie, but they are left angry and perplexed at the blatant disrespect of the Gita by Hollywood.

Mentioning holy verses while having sex is considered disrespectful and racist. #BoycottOpenheimer pic.twitter.com/Gvgi5Brsx4

— Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) July 21, 2023

Other viewers criticized the scene’s historical accuracy and necessity.

Censor board has chopped the abusive words in Oppenheimer movie but it has allowed the scene where the main lead actor is having sex while reading "Bhagavad Gita"

BJP's Censor board has no problem with blasphemy of Hinduism, remember they allowed such nonsense in Adipurush too. pic.twitter.com/5dFWSRhX63

— A! (@LiberalHinduA) July 21, 2023

You are having a sex scene and at same time reading the #BhagavadGita
What crap is this @Chris_Nolann?
You have clearly manipulated the scripted history.
I left the movie instantly after that scene. Shame#Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/IsEXbCIK03

— Mayur (@peafowlms) July 21, 2023

On the other hand, some have defended the use of the Bhagavad Gita, as they believe that the characters do not consider it sacred, only a Sanskrit book. A Twitter user noted that not all Hindus consider the Bhagavad Gita to be holy scripture.

In the film “Oppenheimer”, the Bhagavad Gita appears several times, not only in the sex scene. The film is organically connected to Oppenheimer’s real life, as he was known for his interest in Sanskrit and his study of ancient Hindu texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita.

In the central scene of the film, Oppenheimer, witnessing the creation of the atomic bomb, quotes from the Gita: “Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This is also historically accurate, as Oppenheimer actually said this quote from the Gita when he first saw the explosion of the atomic bomb.

The historical authenticity of the sex scene in “Oppenheimer” remains disputed, especially when Tatlock instructs Oppenheimer to read the Bhagavad Gita during the act. According to previous news, the scene between Murphy and Pugh – especially because of the age difference – was already divisive. It will be interesting to see how further reactions from Hindu audiences will influence Nolan’s future decisions regarding the use of intimate scenes.

Source: ScreenRant