The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is the body responsible for certifying the film suitable for public exhibition in India, where the main character of the movie Guru Pitka was shown to be raised in an ashram.
CBFC superintendent PB Bansode said, "The Love Guru has been submitted for certification and decision on it is pending. The Love Guru opened in the USA and Canada on 20 June last with Hindus calling for its worldwide boycott."
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed believes that 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: "the medium of film remains responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society", "the medium of film provides clean and healthy entertainment."
Zed, who spearheaded the protest movement against The Love Guru beginning in March last, argues that it is a pure and blatant ridiculing of Hinduism, the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at.
The movie has been directed by Marco Schnabel and stars Mike Myers, Jessica Alba with Ben Kingsley and Verne Troyer as supporting actors.
