| Jessica Alba inThe Love Guru - | | | | film hurting the sentiments of Hindus worldwide and |
| | | | urging filmmakers to be more responsible when |
| Author: Aparna Prakash Mon Jun 9, 2008 | | | | handling faith related subjects. Zed has been saying |
| Jessica Alba stars in the new Mike Myers comedy | | | | that from the information available about the movie, |
| The Love Guru which opens in theatres across North | | | | it appears to be lampooning Hinduism and Hindus and |
| America on Friday, June 20. The Love Guru is the | | | | using Hindu terms frivolously. Various Hindu, Catholic, |
| story of an American boy who is raised in an Indian | | | | Presbyterian, Jewish, Native American, Methodist, |
| Ashram. He returns to America and becomes the | | | | Buddhist, youth, film, spiritual/religious, music, yoga, |
| Love Guru to celebrities. Jessica Alba plays the | | | | civil rights, etc., leaders have already issued |
| estranged wife of a star hockey player and she | | | | statements in support of this cause espoused by |
| approaches the Love guru for help. | | | | Rajan Zed. |
| Love Guru is to be released acroos America on | | | | On the other hand, Hindu groups have recently been |
| Friday June 20th and this is a preview. | | | | approaching film distributors associations, exhibitors |
| You can find out more about the movie at their | | | | groups, regulatory bodies, government ministries, |
| website at | | | | theater owners, etc., in various parts of the world |
| Check out the official website for more details. | | | | urging them not to distribute/screen "The Love Guru" |
| The film has created controversy the way it has | | | | till Paramount Pictures, its presenter, makes |
| been filmed in India. Many religous groupsare trying to | | | | necessary changes to it. |
| band the movie so let us see what is in near furture | | | | G. Kendrick Macdowell, Vice President of the National |
| for the film. | | | | Association of Theatre Owners, largest exhibition |
| | | | trade organization in the world, replying to one such |
| Jessica Alba in an indian Dance Sequence | | | | request wrote, "I am sympathetic to your concern |
| Hindus urge FCC intervention in "The Love Guru" | | | | as I have been to the ashrams in India and know a |
| movie | | | | little bit about the guru-disciple relationship. I have not |
| Hindu groups contacted Federal Communications | | | | seen the trailer or the movie, but I can guess that it |
| Commission (FCC) today urging intervention in the | | | | satirizes 'gurus on the make'. I doubt I would find it |
| matter of the upcoming Hollywood movie "The Love | | | | funny. Nevertheless, we are not in a position to take |
| Guru" saying "it will hurt the religious sentiments of | | | | action you recommend …we are a trade |
| millions of Hindus worldwide". | | | | association, and we cannot interfere with the |
| Bhavna Shinde, representing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti | | | | decisions of our members regarding what movies or |
| and Sanatan Society for Scientific Spirituality, in a | | | | trailers to play…" |
| communiqué to FCC Chairman and Chief Executive | | | | A prominent Jewish Rabbi, Elizabeth W. Beyer of |
| Officer Kevin J. Martin and four other commissioners, | | | | Nevada, has called for boycott of "The Love Guru" |
| said, "…If the trailer is an indicator of the content of | | | | because it "…lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life |
| the movie…then we feel that this movie is most | | | | and Hindu philosophy…" and asking "who laughs at |
| likely to hurt the sentiments of seekers from various | | | | religious practices". |
| spiritual paths…it will hurt the religious sentiments of | | | | Paramount Pictures, through its Senior Vice President |
| millions of Hindus worldwide, who hold the | | | | National Publicity, Jessica Rovins, has earlier stated, "It |
| 'Guru-disciple' relationship as sacred…we are | | | | is our full intention to screen the film for Rajan Zed |
| supporting Rajan Zed's protest against the | | | | and other Hindu leaders in the U.S. once we have a |
| denigration…Poking fun is one thing, but if it creates | | | | finished print." |
| a sense of belittling other's faith, then it is wrong." | | | | It may be recalled here that advance screenings of |
| FCC is an independent United States government | | | | Mel Gibson's 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ" |
| agency charged with regulating interstate and | | | | were held for clergy and others. |
| international communications by radio, television, wire, | | | | "The Love Guru"; a comedy starring Mike Myers (of |
| satellite and cable. Since it does not cover movies as | | | | Austin Powers fame, who is also the co-writer and |
| such, Shinde wrote in this communiqué, "…the | | | | co-producer), Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Ben |
| movie will end up on TV and Cable at a later date, | | | | Kingsley; and directed by Marco Schnabel; is set to |
| further penetrating the myths about the sacred | | | | release on June 20 next. In it Myers, an American, |
| concept of the Guru, and hurting religious and spiritual | | | | raised in an ashram in India, moves back to US as |
| sentiments." | | | | Guru Pitka to seek fame and fortune in the world of |
| Meanwhile, furthering the drive pioneered by | | | | self-help and spirituality. |
| acclaimed Hindu and Indo-American leader Rajan Zed, | | | | Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, |
| various organizations and leaders have been coming | | | | has about one billion followers. Moksha (liberation) is |
| out expressing concern about the possibility of this | | | | the ultimate goal of Hinduism. |