'Oppenheimer' Bhagavad Gita Row: I&B Minister Anurag Thakur Demands Explanation From CBFC For Clearing The Movie With Controversial Scene

'Oppenheimer' starring Cillian Murphy created a lot of buzz before its release. Christopher Nolan's movie that hit the screens on July 21 is all the rage. The movie opened with great numbers at the Indian box office. But a section of Indian critics and movie-goers took offence at a particular scene of the movie. They got infuriated over an intimate scene where Oppenheimer was reading a verse from Bhagavad Gita which is considered holy scripture by the Hindus. They expressed disappointment and called out Nolan for hurting religious sentiments.

As per reports in several news agencies, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has sought an explanation from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on why it cleared the movie with the controversial scene. 

Reports also state that Thakur has asked the CBFC officials to get the filmmakers to remove the scene in question while action could be taken against those who cleared the movie.

Talking about the controversial scene, Cillian Murphy who played J. Robert Oppenheimer is shown having intercourse with his partner psychologist Jean Tatler (Florence Pugh) and she asks him to read a verse from what appears to be a Sanskrit book which was purportedly. Bhagavad Gita. He read: "Now, I am become Death, destroyer of the world".

Post the release of the biographical thriller in India, Information Commissioner and author Uday Mahurkar via an open letter raised the issue addressing Christopher Nolan. He posted it on Twitter that read: “We do not know the motivation and logic behind this unnecessary scene on the life of a scientist. But this is a direct assault on religious beliefs of a billion tolerant Hindus, rather it amounts to waging a war on the Hindu community and almost appears to be part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces".

Meanwhile, 'Oppenheimer' has entered the Rs 50 crore club at the Indian box office.