Uday Mahurkar says Bhagavad Gita in Oppenheimer Sex Scene is ‘Unwarranted, Insult to Civilisation’

New Delhi, 25th July 2023: In the midst of the controversy over the recitation of the Bhagavad Gita during a sex scene in Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus ‘Oppenheimer,’ Uday Mahurkar, an information commissioner and founder of the Save Culture Save India Foundation, told CNN-News18 that while the reciting of the Bhagavad Gita during a sex scene is, “the intention is not bad, the scenes are unwarranted and an insult to the Gita and Indian civilisation.”

He said, “I have written letter to Nolan. There is no response so far… I welcome Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur’s prompt response and hope for equal promptness from Nolan.”

He further said, “The Censor board holds responsibility for this…”

Thakur has requested an explanation and corrective action from the Central Board of Film Certification.

He said, “Oppenheimer is a scientist. He is the father of the atomic bomb. He has written that when the blast took place, he drew inspiration from the Gita. The intention of the movie is not bad. The Bhagavad Gita is a unique book. It is a matter of pride for India when a scientist of western origin says he drew inspiration from the Gita. The scene where he is shown to be having sex and reading the Gita is totally unwarranted. It is an insult to the Gita and our civilisation.”

Mahurkar said, “There can be only two intentions. Insult to our civilisational values or earn some money…”

However the actual Book and the name and the name of the Bhagavad Gita is not included in the scene. When questioned about this Mahurkar said, “It is a lame argument. The actress might not have said the word ‘Gita’, but it is understood… It is unwarranted. It is unjustifiable. Those who want to defend him, it is good for them…”

He concluded by saying, “Nolan might have not reacted to it, but he is certainly not unaware of it. It has appeared in all major newspapers in Europe. I am eager to know how he will react. We think he might agree [to remove it] as it hurts a major section of audience.”

Oppenheimer is a biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the renowned physicist who invented the world’s first atomic weapon. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, and Rami Malek star in the picture. The film has had a strong opening in India.