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How a Bollywood blockbuster about an alien from outer space prompted outrage in India How a Bollywood blockbuster about an alien from outer space prompted outrage in India
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI -- It is not the usual boy-meets-girl Bollywood movie plot. The new blockbuster holiday movie called “PK” is about how an alien-meets-India.NEW DELHI -- It is not the usual boy-meets-girl Bollywood movie plot. The new blockbuster holiday movie called “PK” is about how an alien-meets-India.
The film has earned more than $33 million in the 10 days since it opened, but has also earned much ire from Hindus.The film has earned more than $33 million in the 10 days since it opened, but has also earned much ire from Hindus.
It shows a funny and loveable alien who lands in India, loses contact with his spaceship, but discovers that Indians are superstitious about their gods, and surround themselves with all kinds of swindling Hindu religious gurus.It shows a funny and loveable alien who lands in India, loses contact with his spaceship, but discovers that Indians are superstitious about their gods, and surround themselves with all kinds of swindling Hindu religious gurus.
Hindu groups say the movie insults their religious sentiments.Hindu groups say the movie insults their religious sentiments.
On Monday, angry groups burnt effigies of the film’s director and actor, tore and blackened movie posters and shattered the glass walls at the movie ticket counters. Calls to boycott the movie dominated social media and WhatsApp groups this weekend.On Monday, angry groups burnt effigies of the film’s director and actor, tore and blackened movie posters and shattered the glass walls at the movie ticket counters. Calls to boycott the movie dominated social media and WhatsApp groups this weekend.
Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev urged Hindus to boycott the movie and “organize themselves to protect their religion and culture just like Muslim and Christian groups do.”Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev urged Hindus to boycott the movie and “organize themselves to protect their religion and culture just like Muslim and Christian groups do.”
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, (or the World Hindu Council), a radical group and an affiliate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political party, wrote to the country’s information and broadcasting ministry demanding that such movies be stopped and called for an overhaul of the censor board that cleared “PK.” The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, (or the World Hindu Council), a Hindu nationalist group and an affiliate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political party, wrote to the country’s information and broadcasting ministry demanding that such movies be stopped and called for an overhaul of the censor board that cleared “PK.”
But Leela Samson, the chairwoman of the Censor Board of Film Certification, told the Press Trust of India that “every film may hurt religious sentiments of somebody or the other. We can't remove scenes unnecessarily because there is something called creative endeavour where people present things in their own way. We have already given certificate to 'PK' and we can't remove anything now because it's already out for public viewing.”But Leela Samson, the chairwoman of the Censor Board of Film Certification, told the Press Trust of India that “every film may hurt religious sentiments of somebody or the other. We can't remove scenes unnecessarily because there is something called creative endeavour where people present things in their own way. We have already given certificate to 'PK' and we can't remove anything now because it's already out for public viewing.”
Much of the criticism is being heaped on the popular star Aamir Khan, a Muslim, who plays the alien with wide-eyes and pointy ears like that of Spock from "Star Trek." In the film, the alien exposes a guru’s fraud, questions the fear psyche that drives Hindus to flock to temples and ashrams and donate money.Much of the criticism is being heaped on the popular star Aamir Khan, a Muslim, who plays the alien with wide-eyes and pointy ears like that of Spock from "Star Trek." In the film, the alien exposes a guru’s fraud, questions the fear psyche that drives Hindus to flock to temples and ashrams and donate money.
On Twitter, hashtags #BoycottPK clashed with #GoWatchPK.On Twitter, hashtags #BoycottPK clashed with #GoWatchPK.
Conspiracy theories were floated, too. Subramanian Swamy, a senior leader of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party tweeted that the movie was financed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency. Conspiracy theories were floated, too. Subramanian Swamy, a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party tweeted that the movie was financed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
Who financed the PK film? According to my sources it is traceable to Dubai and ISI. DRI must investigate — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 29, 2014Who financed the PK film? According to my sources it is traceable to Dubai and ISI. DRI must investigate — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 29, 2014
Who financed the PK film? According to my sources it is traceable to Dubai and ISI. DRI must investigateWho financed the PK film? According to my sources it is traceable to Dubai and ISI. DRI must investigate
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 29, 2014— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 29, 2014