Hindus have criticised Statens biografbyrå (SBB) of Sweden for giving Hollywood movie "The Love Guru" a "Fran 7 ar" (non-harming for children over seven years) classification, while they say it deserved the highest "15 ar" (under 15 not admitted) classification.
Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu leader, stresses that by giving “The Love Guru” a “7 ar” rating, SBB is leading the highly impressionable Swedish children between seven to 15 years of age to grow-up with a distorted view of Hinduism.
Zed also censured the regulation that public cannot appeal the SBB classification decision which, he said, was unfitting to the spirit of open country like Sweden. According to Erik Wallander, SBB Director, “The law does not allow us to consider anything but the potential psychological harm a film may cause children when we classify films for public showing… the public can not appeal our decisions.”
Meanwhile Zed, supported by some other organisations/leaders, has given Sweden-wide boycott call against “The Love Guru” (being released on August 13) by Hindus and other religious Swedes because it lampoons Hinduism and Hindu concepts and uses Hindu terms frivolously.
Rajan Zed is hopeful of the boycott success and adds that many Hindus and others who feel their pain will refrain from going to this movie in Sweden. Box office receipts will prove it, he says.
Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, and who launched campaign against this movie starting in March, urging other people of faith (besides Hindus) also to boycott the movie, says, “Today it is Hinduism, tomorrow Hollywood might attempt to denigrate another religion/denomination.”
A prominent Jewish Rabbi, Elizabeth W. Beyer of Nevada (USA), has also called for boycott of “The Love Guru” because it “…lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life and Hindu philosophy…”
The antics of Guru Pitka of “The Love Guru” are a mockery of the esteemed institution of guru, who is a highly revered spiritual teacher/master/preceptor in Hinduism, Zed stresses.
‘Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion followers and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at,’ Rajan Zed says.
Meanwhile, a signature campaign launched by Hindu groups against “The Love Guru” has crossed the 6,900 mark.
Statens biografbyrå is the government film censorship body of Sweden launched in 1911, which goes by Examination and Control of Films and Videograms Act issued in 1990.
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