Oppenheimer: Anurag Thakur Warns Of Action Against CBFC For Clearing The Controversial Bhagavad Gita Scene

Christopher Nolan’s directorial ‘Oppenheimer’ sparked controversy in India around a scene where Cillian Murphy reads a line from the Bhagavad Gita while getting intimate with Florence Pugh.

New Delhi: Christopher Nolan’s directorial ‘Oppenheimer’ sparked controversy in India around a scene where Cillian Murphy, playing the titular role, reads a line from the Bhagavad Gita while getting intimate with Florence Pugh, playing Jean Tatlock. The scene has angered audiences in India, leading to protests. 

According to ANI, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has taken a stern view of the controversial scene. In response to the objectionable scene, the minister has demanded absolute accountability from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). 

The Central Board of Film Certification granted the movie a U/A rating after approving a sexual scene involving Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). In the movie, Pugh breaks off their sexual encounter in the middle of it, gets up, walks over to the bookshelf, chooses a copy of the 'Bhagavad Gita', and asks Murphy to read aloud from it.   

Anurag Thakur has also reportedly taken an uncompromising stance, demanded absolute accountability from CBFC, and instructed the censor board to delete the controversial scene without delay. Anurag Thakur also expressed his displeasure and emphasized that such negligence cannot be overlooked.  

There are also reports that action could be initiated against some censor board officials, who are seen as responsible for clearing the movie. 

Earlier, Uday Mahurkar, Information Commissioner, sharing a press release by the 'Save Culture Save India Foundation', said, "One is perplexed as to how the CBFC could approve the film with this scene.” 

Meanwhile, at the box office 'Oppenheimer' has been doing exceptionally well and is close to breaking the 50-crore mark in India. According to early estimates, the film collected Rs 17.25 crore net on its third day of release bringing the total to Rs 49 crore. On its first day of release, the movie made Rs 14.50 crore; on its second day, it brought in Rs 17.25 crore.   

'Oppenheimer' is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel American Prometheus by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin, which is based on the life of nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, widely known as the 'Father of the Nuclear Bomb'. In the massive biopic, actor Cillian Murphy is portraying the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Jack Quaid, Benny Safdie, and Rami Malek are all featured in the movie.