22 July,2023 04:49 PM IST | Los Angeles | mid-day online correspondent
Still from `Oppenheimer`
The inclusion of sex scenes in Christopher Nolan's latest film, 'Oppenheimer,' has sparked mixed reactions amongst viewers, with some expressing anger, particularly over the presence of the sacred Bhagavad Gita in one of the scenes.
Even before its premiere, 'Oppenheimer' was the site of controversy due to its explicit nudity and sexuality and earned an R-rating -- the first for a Christopher Nolan film in 20 years. This film marks Nolan's first venture into incorporating a sex scene into his cinematic universe, a decision he made to accurately depict the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, and his passionate relationship with Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh. However, some viewers found the scenes offensive.
The contentious moment featuring the Bhagavad Gita, one of the holiest scriptures for Hindus, in the sex scene has drawn particular ire from viewers. Twitter users, criticized the film as disrespectful for using a sacred book in such a context.
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Interestingly, when 'Oppenheimer' was released in India, the sex scene was blurred by the Indian censor board, while the Bhagavad Gita reference remained, leading to further debates about potential blasphemy.
While some defended the decision, arguing that the characters in the film did not consider the book as 'holy' but merely as 'Sanskrit,' others expressed their disappointment, emphasizing that the scene wasn't historically accurate or necessary to the context of the film.
However, the Bhagavad Gita's presence in 'Oppenheimer' goes beyond the controversial sex scene. In reality, J. Robert Oppenheimer had a fascination with Sanskrit and was deeply involved in studying ancient Hindu texts, including the Bhagavad Gita. A quote from the Gita plays a crucial role in the film when Oppenheimer witnesses the immense power of the atomic bomb he helped create and utters, "Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." This was also historically relevant, as the real-life Oppenheimer later said that it was this Gita quote that came to his mind when he first saw the atomic bomb explode.
This historical accuracy highlights Oppenheimer's connection to the Hindu scripture and explains its prominence in the film. Nevertheless, questions remain about the authenticity of the sex scene involving Tatlock asking Oppenheimer to recite the Bhagavad Gita during their intimate moment.
Given early reports of frontal nudity and the age difference between the actors, which already stirred controversy, it remains to be seen how Hindu audiences' reactions might influence Christopher Nolan's future approach to including such intimate scenes in his film, particularly when religious sentiments and cultural sensitivities are part of the fray.
