While Hollywood movie "The Love Guru" has been released in many countries and has been classified/rated in many others with set dates for release, it is reportedly yet to be submitted for certification in India.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is the body responsible for certifying films suitable for public exhibition in India, where the main character of the movie Guru Pitka was shown to be raised in an ashram. According to Mr. Bansode, CBFC Superintendent, "The Love Guru" has not been submitted yet and once a movie is submitted, it usually takes about one or two weeks to finalise it. "The Love Guru" opened in USA and Canada on June 20.
According to acclaimed Hindu leader Rajan Zed, this movie appears to violate various CBFC "guidelines for certification". He listed the apparently challenged CBFC guidelines in this movie as: " such dual meaning words as obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed"; "visuals or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups are not presented"; "human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity".
Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, stresses that the Cinematograph Act lays down that a film has to be certified keeping "morality" in mind, besides other things. CBFC objectives of film certification are given as… "the medium of film remains responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society", "the medium of film provides clean and healthy entertainment"…
India has about 13,000 cinema halls and according to CBFC website, "Every three months an audience as large as India's entire population (about 1.13 billion) flock to the cinema halls."
Rajan Zed, well known Indo-American leader, spearheaded the protest movement against "The Love Guru" beginning in March saying it appears to be lampooning Hinduism, and has received support from various Hindu and non-Hindu organisations and leaders.
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