Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer appears to have hurt religious sentiments in India for featuring Bhagavad Gita during a sex scene. The film’s release in the south-pacific Asian region has been all over social media since Universal Pictures India & CBFC went back and forth on if the historical drama should be rated U/A or A (equivalent to PG-13 and R).
“Now I am Death, Destroyer of Worlds”, the complex quote from Bhagavad Gita has been in the spotlight lately over its use by Robert J. Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s biopic based on the Pulitzer-winning book, American Prometheus. Although early reactions were nothing but praise, even from Indian audiences – there is a growing backlash over using the Hindu holy book during a sex scene. While the father of Atomic Bomb has gone on record reciting the Holy Hindu text – Nolan appears to have taken creative liberty by showing it in a dramatic and sexual setting.
Florence Pugh‘s Jean & Cillian Murphy‘s Oppie are shown engaging in intercourse and in the middle of the sequence, Jean walks over to Robert’s book cupboard and picks up the Holy text, and is puzzled by the language. She then walks up to Oppenheimer – asking him to read the words.
Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer namedrops Vishnu before during the intimate sequence with Florence Pugh
As he recites the famous quote, Jean once again engages in the sexual act. Oppie is also heard saying, “Vishnu” as she gets on top of him. While the nudity was completely cropped out in the Indian cut. It is recognizable the two are engaged intimately.
#Oppenheimer India –
minimal cuts… one nude scene being covered… https://t.co/r8tG0Qybnx— AB George (@AbGeorge_) July 21, 2023
Noooooo they removed the nude scene from Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/D2LS7mA0WS
— Haseem (@Tittysuprmacy) July 20, 2023
So a nude lady holding bhagwad geeta in oppenheimer, no boycott call ?
— Subject Kantala (@ifOnlyKewal) July 21, 2023
This is Kreately media run by BJP leader Kapil Mishra
He wants Bollywood to take lessons from Oppenheimer's main lead Cilian Murphy.
In the movie, Oppenheimer, Cilian Murphy has been shown having sex while reading Bhagavad Geeta, the scene which the Indian censor board did not… https://t.co/ASEsiESENf
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) July 22, 2023
“The Bhagavad Gita… is the most beautiful philosophical song existing in any known tongue.” – Erwin Schrödinger
“Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.” – Robert Oppenheimer
“I go into the Upanishads to ask… pic.twitter.com/FbWlemogtK
— Hims (@maveinlux) July 15, 2023
There's literally nothing wrong with translating कालोऽस्मि as I am death. Because, in Indian philosophical traditions, the terms time and death are used interchangeably.
Oppenheimer’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita verse is perfect. It sounds more poetic and mysterious. https://t.co/iSUhGa39hz pic.twitter.com/KbJfet5FXh
— Onkara ♡ (@sacredrain) July 21, 2023
Just saw the movie. This idiot @KapilMishra_IND does not know that Oppenheimer( Cillian Murphy) is shown having sex while his girlfriend shows him the Bhagwad Geeta. Kerala resort में रहकर बेहोश मिश्रा की बुद्धि corrupt हो गई है! https://t.co/nFbS0rYOlo
— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) July 22, 2023
I’m calling for a boycott of the movie Oppenheimer. I just learned there is a highly offensive scene involving the Bhagavad Gita in it. I will not repeat it here, but it involves something explicit. Never trust Hollywood and West to depict Hinduism positively and accurately.
— Indian-Americans (@HinduAmericans) July 20, 2023
Heard that Censor Board did not cut a sex scene while Bhagvad Geeta is being chanted in #Oppenheimer. Disgusting! A new low
If this be true, Censor Board has once again proven that it has been a totally useless body like always that inadvertently is a party to promoting mockery…
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) July 21, 2023
For starters, it should be noted CBFC (India’s censor board) had no part in the censoring, blurring, or cropping out of Florence Pugh’s nude sequences in Oppenheimer. It seems Universal Pictures India self-censored the shots before submitting the film – a move that has become common in the country (case in point, The Boys season 3 episode 7).
PursueNews can confirm the second nudity appears at some point in the second act of the film when Oppie visits Jean Tatlock, his long-time affair – an incident that occurs in 1943. The sequence plays out for over a minute and shows Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh seated opposite each other.
Both actors are completely nude though their crotch are not shown but Pugh’s breasts are visible for a lengthy duration as their two characters have an exchange of dialogues about their love affair. Though this is not how the scene played out in the Indian theatrical cut.
The shot showcasing Pugh’s frontal semi-nudity is not censored rather is covered by what appears to be a cloth included during post-production. Any film pundit would notice the jarring addition to conceal Pugh’s breasts in the scene but Cillian remains untouched.
A few days ago, Bhakts were boasting about Oppenheimer reading ‘The Gita’.
After the release of the movie, they're offended. 😂 https://t.co/DgrRQJcBLa pic.twitter.com/GHCpNN9edG
— Advaid അദ്വൈത് (@Advaidism) July 22, 2023
IM SCREAMING all those Indian men with they fragile masculinity shitting on barbie for Oppenheimer just for Indian censor board to cut important scenes out cause of nudity and pasting a big ass "smoking causes cancer" sticker on the screen pic.twitter.com/pRszNYUD3b
— Miss Tenebrae (@misstenebraealt) July 21, 2023
Bro doesn't know that the first time Murphy said it in the movie, Florence Pugh was riding him😭 https://t.co/tniHWLqvBt
— Yash Trivedi (@YashTri91047970) July 21, 2023
There is no historical evidence that J Robert #Oppenheimer used to receive Bhagvad Geeta Paath lessons from his sex-partners during sex.
Woke Hollywood has no reason to give any more value to Geeta than a petty prop.
But why is Bharat so comfortable with this? pic.twitter.com/OTcmkUkwbI
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) July 21, 2023
Big fan of Nolan but you let me down this time. I will request the film makers to kindly explain or this scene should be removed from the movie.#Oppenheimer #BhagavadGita #ChristopherNolan #CillianMurphy pic.twitter.com/IJIZtcGuGV
— Nitin Madhray (@nitinmadhray11) July 21, 2023
Distorting and quoting Hindu scriptures out of context and in most disgusting way is a fundamental part of western mindset, and #Oppenheimer is no exception, but what was censor board doing @MIB_India and why are Indians comfortable with this? https://t.co/ILBsKGEHy7
— #JaiShreeRam AJ for Modi 2.0 (@ameyamjoshi) July 21, 2023
Just got to know that Gita Shloka is referenced in the movie Oppenheimer during a nude sex scene.
The nude woman holds The Holy Book and asks Murphy to read the shloka while indulging in obscene acts.
Isn't this blasphemous?#Oppenheimer #OppenheimerFilm #ChristopherNolan— Γ γ γάμμα रे (@gammarayenjoyer) July 21, 2023
In the movie,he is reads that line while having sex. Moreover he has a habit of reading books of other languages and scriptures. His views are more inclined towards communism. Bhakts & Bjp read btw the lines create fake stories. Make fool of themselves https://t.co/d4l2zU3S5E
— Abhilash (@itsme_abhilash) July 22, 2023
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
Oppenheimer and Jean are shown once again engaged in intercourse during the hearing scene for his renewal of security clearance. The sequence appears to suggest it is Kitty Oppenheimer’s (Emily Blunt) thought process as she hears her husband recollect those memories. The said shots were cropped out in the Indian cut.
The shocking use of the Bhagavad Gita in an erotic setting has not been received well by Indians. Many calling for a boycott of Christopher Nolan’s pic or to explain the context behind it. Nolan has not specifically addressed it as of this writing but it is fair to say even avid fans of the filmmaker were surprised to see topless shots in his film.
So what did you think of the use of the Bhagavad Gita & its quote during the sensual setting? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more updates on Nolan’s latest entry and all things Hollywood.
