Sacred or profane? Oppenheimer faces backlash over Bhagavad Gita scene

The latest film by Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer,” has stirred up controversy over a scene where the protagonist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, is involved in an intimate act while reciting verses believed to be from the sacred Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.

Social media users have expressed their displeasure and are demanding the removal of the contentious scene from the film, which was released in India on Friday and has already grossed approximately Rs 30 crore at the box office in just two days.

Uday Mahurkar, Information Commissioner of the Government of India, has written an open letter to Nolan, describing the scene as a “disturbing attack on Hinduism” and requesting the director to remove the controversial scene globally. In his letter, he stated that if this request were ignored, it would be considered a deliberate assault on Indian civilization.

In the film, the character of Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, is depicted having an intimate encounter with psychologist Jean Tatler, portrayed by Florence Pugh. During this scene, Tatler encourages a confused Oppenheimer to read a verse from what seems to be a Sanskrit book, which is not clearly visible to the audience. Oppenheimer recites the verse, “Now, I am become Death, destroyer of the world.”

Oppenheimer movie sparks controversy over Bhagavad Gita scene. Photo courtesy of Ehud Neuhaus on Unsplash.

The real-life J. Robert Oppenheimer, often referred to as ‘the father of the atom bomb,’ had learned Sanskrit and was reportedly influenced by the Bhagavad Gita. He had once recalled that this verse had come to his mind after witnessing the first detonation of a nuclear weapon in 1945.

In response to the controversial scene, some social media users have called for a boycott of the film. Criticism has also been directed towards the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for approving the movie with the contentious scene. CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi and other board members have yet to respond to these criticisms.

During the film’s promotion, Murphy disclosed that he had read the Bhagavad Gita to prepare for his role in “Oppenheimer” and found the text to be beautiful and inspiring. Despite the controversy, the movie continues to generate interest and features a star-studded cast that includes Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.