Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur has demanded full accountability from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Christopher Nolan’s film ‘Oppenheimer’, featuring Cillian Murphy.
The film has drawn widespread criticism in India due to a scene depicting an intimate moment involving a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a revered holy scripture for Hindus, which has sparked outrage online.
Thakur has taken a firm stance against the contentious scene and has instructed the filmmakers to promptly remove it from the movie. He has warned that strict action will be taken against all CBFC members responsible for approving the screening of the film, PTI reported.
The Minister expressed his displeasure with the CBFC’s perceived failure to protect public interests and stressed the importance of accountability.
Earlier on Sunday, Uday Mahurkar, the Information Commissioner of the Indian government, also criticized the scene, calling it an insult to Hinduism and the Bhagavad Gita. He urged director Christopher Nolan to delete the offensive scene, stating that it promotes religious hatred.
The film ‘Oppenheimer’ is a biopic set during World War II, focusing on Robert J Oppenheimer, known as the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb’. The star-studded cast includes Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh and Jack Quaid. The movie was released in Indian theaters on July 21.