Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' stirs controversy, hurts Hindu sentiments

Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" was released on July 21 and one of its scenes has stirred controversy among Indians as it has reportedly insulted the Hindu epic Bhagavad Gita in the movie. 

During an intimate scene between Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh's characters, the Bhagavad Gita was being recited. This has enraged Indian netizens as they took to Twitter to express their frustration. 

Some people have also criticised the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for blurring the intimate scenes but the Bhagavad Gita reference stayed there, despite being potentially seen as "blasphemy."

One of the users wrote, "I'm calling for a boycott of the film Oppenheimer. I recently discovered that it contains a really objectionable scenario regarding the Bhagavad Gita. I won't say it again, but it involves something explicit. Never put your faith in Hollywood or the West to portray Hinduism positively or accurately."

While many criticised the movie; others tried to defend it by saying that they didn't consider it 'holy' but rather as Sanskrit. 

Oppenheimer had a lifelong passion for Sanskrit and became absorbed in ancient Hindu writings such as the Bhagavad Gita. He was always interested in religion and language, and the Gita seemed to speak to him. He considered it philosophical, but he never considered himself a traditional Hindu.

When the eponymous physicist realised the horrific force of the atomic weapon he helped make, he declared, "Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds" which was taken from Gita.