Home » Brown in America, Entertainment, Opinion

The Hindoos are coming! (UPDATE)

From Runa On 8 April 2008 View Comments

The #1 Most popular story on CNN.com today is titled ” Is Mike Myers’ new film asking for trouble?” with sub-headings :

- Mike Myers’ new film, “The Love Guru,” raising concern among Hindus

-”Guru” concerns spiritual leader offered money to solve love affair

- Hindus wondering if film mocks rituals, or whether it’s all just good fun

GuruExcited at the thought of hordes of saffron covered Hindutva types, burning effigies and shouting slogans outside Hollywood studios, I scanned the article. Alas, our good friends at CNN are taking a leaf out of the TOI tabloid journalism playbook. The so -called article relies on the word of one – count ‘em -one Hindu – none other than the ubiquitous Rajan Zed. Mr.Zed now calls himself a “Hindu leader” and demands that Paramount Pictures screen the film for members of the Hindu community before it is released in June.( I knew that my faith would pay off one day. Where do I sign up for my free movie pass?)

Mike Myers’ plays the Love Guru – Guru Pitka. Per the article, the plot runs thus :

Pitka identifies himself as “a spiritual teacher affiliated with no one faith” and has the same crass-and-goofy charm as Myers’ Austin Powers and “Wayne’s World” characters. And the movie’s plot — he heads West when he’s offered $2 million to heal a hockey star’s romance so the team can win the Stanley Cup — is harmless enough.

This is Hollywood at its weak-kneed best . No cojones to declare the Guru Hindu yet :

He wears long hair, a long beard and a flowing caftan. “Prepare to get your enlightenment freak on,” Pitka tells visitors to his MySpace page, where he blends real information — such as the Sanskrit origins of the word “guru” — with silliness, including impossible yoga poses that would require elastic limbs. He plays sappy pop songs on the sitar. His mantra is “Mariska Hargitay.”

Mr.Zed is concerned that the movie lampoons Hindus ( ya think?)

“People are not very well-versed in Hinduism, so this might be their only exposure,” he told The Associated Press. “They will have an image in their minds of stereotypes. They will think most of us are like that.”

I beg to differ. No one is going to take a Mike Myers movie seriously. Else all bald people should have vociferously protested “Austin Powers” and as for cats – they should have sued over the execrable “Cat in a Hat”. Frankly, no -one cares or should care about being portrayed accurately by Myers.

Switch on any Desi TV channel – Zee TV, Sun TV etc and you will see numerous advertisements for assorted Babajis and Panditjis promising to solve all your problems including love problems for mucho $$$$. How can Mr.Zed be so disconnected from the realities of the community he claims to represent?

I watch with interest as Mr.Zed is slowly becoming the go-to person in the US for all things Hindu . First, I would like to know how he got such a cool last name. Next, as Santosh asked in earlier posts (1,2), how does he get to be the sole spokesperson for all US Hindus ? As for CNN, this article is probably the result of some very smart PR hack person , trying to get mileage for what promises to be another brain-dead movie from the Myers’ stable.

UPDATE ( tip: Santosh): Mr.Rajan Zed has partially redeemed himself in our eyes by moving his attention away from Hollywood and taking it upon himself to speak to the Duke University officials about increasing security for Indian students in the wake of the Mahato killing .He also met religious leaders to suggest greater inclusion of the Hindu community in outreach programs. Watch this space as we track Zed’s adventures.

Previous Über Desi post on Pitka

Looks like you are one of our regular visitors. Here is our RSS feed, just another way to keep up with the new posts.

  • Krishna,
    I don’t think you got my drift, nor do i think you have ever engaged in an educative discussion

    Just don't agree with you POV. About the "educative discussion", some would call it "brainwashing". But I neither expect you agree or comprehend this.

    if some one has made a movie and it has some thing objectionable, lets not view it an individual level, lets view it at what repercussions would it have at a society level?

    Again, who decides what is objectionable and what is appropriate for the individuals that constitutes a society? Are you saying individual members of the society are not smart enough to decide for themselves? If you think they are indeed capable of deciding for themselves, why not let them make the decision, instead of forcing it down our throats under the guise of religion.

    Perhaps we disagree on the role of an individual in the society. You think they are dumb and you have to decide what is best for them, I think they're smart enough to decide if a movie offends their taste and if they want to watch a movie or not. And so, I don't see a point in continuing this discussion. So like you said, ruminate on this and be at peace.
  • Santosh,

    I don't think you got my drift, nor do i think you have ever engaged in an educative discussion, hence i leave you in your peace, to sum up every thing, i have written so far , i would only like to mention, if some one has made a movie and it has some thing objectionable, lets not view it an individual level, lets view it at what repercussions would it have at a society level? well this i hope you understand? if not... you would need a translator.
  • Krishna,
    Lets go back to the part where you claim you answered my question.

    In this current day and age,where we have drugs and violence in abundance and no peace of mind, for some, their faith in Hindu dharma is the only solace, but if that also is malinged and ridiculed, where will this person go?

    If someone's faith is their only solace as you claim, by getting themselves worked up everytime they perceive a slight to the religion, they're not really getting much solace, are they? If you really found peace and solace, you would not really be affected by these minor incidents. So no, this is not a "noble cause".

    Also, you seem to be saying that this movie hurts the pride of millions of followers of a thousands of years old religion. If your faith is affected and pride is that easily hurt by a movie and couple of paintings, seems to me like you all are a really weak of faith bunch of followers.
  • Dear Runa,
    I would like to ask a return question to you, If this religion has lasted for centruy after century and yuga after Yuga, why has it come to a stage where one has to come out and protest that this great Hindu Dharma is being mocked upon, Where is the pride in the one's following it??
    If one really feels it is a great religion, then where is the pride about it? Why does one keep quite and laugh at te jokes made at the same Dharma which was give to us by our fore fathers such as Sage Vyas?? This Hindu dharma is the identity for every son or daughter of the soil born in the sacred land of Bharat, which has been described by great sages and seers as the spiritual capital of the world. Where is the pride in our so called Desi's who are in the US. They like the good part of it, but do not want to rise up when some one makes mockery of the way of life of a Hindu. In this case, in the movie, The Love Guru, they have made mockery of the purana's , the vedas and the Guru Shishya lineage. What happens, when one makes blasphemous comments of a certain faith called islam or christianity...there would be violence on the face of this earth?.. The protesters have only asked for some decency in potraying Hindu dharma in the movie and not to malign it, as little kids and infants in Hindu Dharma will not be disillusioned by comedies such as this. It could be termed as a comedy, how ever a movie sends a powerful message, that its ok to make fun about a certain religion, Things which may be funny for some may not be funny for others, hence the request for being sensitive.
  • Runa
    their faith in Hindu dharma is the only solace, but if that also is malinged and ridiculed, where will this person go


    Krishna,
    If one's faith is strong what does it matter what anyone says?

    I find the idea ludicrous that one brain dead Hollywood movie is going to malign a religion that has lasted thousands of years
  • Santosh,I have already explained your question in my previous post on why it is a noble cause.
  • In this current day and age,where we have drugs and violence in abundance and no peace of mind, for some, their faith in Hindu dharma is the only solace, but if that also is malinged and ridiculed, where will this person go? Hence the noble cause of protecting the faith.


    You are yet to answer the question. How is protesting a movie a "noble cause"?
  • Santosh, About the noble cause term, Saving one's faith (which is near and dear to one practicing it )from being denigrated and defending it from intellectual and Psychological aggression is a noble cause. In this current day and age,where we have drugs and violence in abundance and no peace of mind, for some, their faith in Hindu dharma is the only solace, but if that also is malinged and ridiculed, where will this person go? Hence the noble cause of protecting the faith.

    Runa, If we readers didn't have the cutting insights, then you would not have a blog :).
  • About Mr. Rajan Zed. Why, pick on some one, who atleast has taken him time and putting effort for some noble cause


    Why is it a "noble cause"? Does him preventing the release of The Love Guru do anything remotely helpful towards any poor, sick or needy person? Does it accomplish anything remotely charitable? Are we finding a cure for cancer or eliminating world hunger by protesting "The Love Guru"? Your definition of "noble cause" seems to be, pardon my French, FUBAR.
  • Runa
    Hence whether mentioned here explicitely or no, it has direct references to Hindu Dharma.

    I believe you misunderstood - my statement was that Hollywood does not have the cojones to declare the character "The Guru" Hindu - not the word
    other than those who have nothing better to do hence writing blogs.


    I always welcome such cutting insights from people who have nothing better to do than reading blogs !
  • Dear Runa,

    I read your comments with interest, Seems to me , the comments could be more educative and reasonable with a little more of reading and research.

    "This is Hollywood at its weak-kneed best . No cojones to declare the Guru Hindu yet " The word "Guru" is a principle, just like there are Lord Ram,Lord Krushna in the Hindu Dharma ( Sanatan Dharma) in itself, The upanishads and vedas have described the word Guru as the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance around the disciple and takes him towards enlightenment". Hence whether mentioned here explicitely or no, it has direct references to Hindu Dharma.

    "I beg to differ. No one is going to take a Mike Myers movie seriously."
    One wouldn't mock at a sacred revered God Principle like the Guru, Humour is ok as long as it doesn't stoop to the level of picking at some one's faith. This sort of sets an example among the society and sends a wrong message that its ok to do so and its ok to pick on some one's faith.

    About Mr. Rajan Zed. Why, pick on some one, who atleast has taken him time and putting effort for some noble cause other than those who have nothing better to do hence writing blogs.
  • On one side, I agree with Rajan Zed demanding or requesting Paramount Pictures screen the film for members of the Hindu community before it is released in June.

    On other side, Runa, I agree with your statement I beg to differ. No one is going to take a Mike Myers movie seriously..

    The concept of UTMOST FREEDOM OF THOUGHTS And ACTIONS, is the most important aspects of Hinduism.

    Even an atheist can condemn Hinduism in the market place and still proudly proclaim he or she is a Hindu.

    Voltaire in Essay on Tolerance wrote: I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death, your right to say it.

    Hinduism is the symbolic representation of what Voltaire wrote.

    Just like the dead ex president said:

    The only thing Hindus have to fear is fear itself
  • Runa
    Why doesn’t Zed protest some real conmen

    Rahul, great question. Possibly because CNN is not interested in covering it :-)
    Smart post that asks good questions


    S.I.
    Glad you liked it.There are a lot of real issues out there - a Mike Myers' movie is not one of them
  • Smart post that asks good questions. There's no need to get up in arms about every negative depiction, especially when it's possible that this kind of garbage helps us out in the long run. Depending on what you want.
  • Rahul
    Why doesn't Zed protest some real conmen like Mahesh Yogi, Satya Sai Baba, and legions of other bearded charlatans who have inflicted real damage to people under the pretext of channeling God and in the name of Hinduism, instead of manufacturing outrage over some harmless, and potentially even good, fun?

    Or maybe a condition of becoming a congodman is that one is never allowed to speak ill of other union members.
blog comments powered by Disqus