New Delhi: According to news reports, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur have expressed concerns to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the clearance given to Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer. The film has faced criticism from certain quarters due to an intimate scene involving a character reading a Sanskrit text.
According to these reports, Minister Thakur has sought an explanation from the CBFC regarding their decision to allow the film to be shown in its current form. There have been suggestions that he even asked the officials to remove the scene in question, and there could be potential consequences for those who approved the film.
The controversial scene features actors Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh portraying J. Robert Oppenheimer and his lover Jean Tatlock, respectively. Tatlock’s character is seen holding a book with Sanskrit writing, believed to be the Bhagavad Gita, while Oppenheimer reads from it in an intimate moment. There have been claims on social media that the CBFC added black CGI clothing to Florence Pugh’s body in a scene where she was allegedly shown naked in the original film.
It’s worth noting that an earlier version of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023, included a provision that would have allowed the Union government to order a review of the film. However, this clause was removed following opposition from the film industry and a precedent set by the Supreme Court’s previous ruling on a similar matter.
Some public figures, including Chief Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, have voiced objections to the film’s portrayal. Mahurkar, on behalf of his ‘Save Culture, Save India’ Foundation, wrote an open letter to Nolan, expressing concerns that the scene was an assault on the religious beliefs of Hindus and part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces.
On contrary, critics oppose the idea alleging that the Cabinet Minister’s personal views should not serve as a legal basis for interfering with the CBFC’s regulatory role. They believe that such religious sentiments are not consistent with the principles of the rule of law.
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