New Delhi: The much-awaited film Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, has sparked a discussion among netizens over its controversial sex scenes.
Prior to the film’s release, rumors circulated about a 15-minute-long sex scene in Oppenheimer. Cillian Murphy himself described the scenes as “so f**king powerful.”
However, when the film hit Indian theaters, viewers were disappointed to find that the explicit content had been cut. Instead, Pugh’s character was covered up by CGI with a black dress during certain scenes.
Netizens took to social media to express their frustration, with some feeling “robbed” of the promised content. Indian users reported that the film was heavily censored, with the screen going black during the sex scenes and nude scenes being altered with CGI.
I never imagined that the Indian Censor Board would play a joke on me. ?#Oppeneheimer pic.twitter.com/ctoUDTuAB1
— Dhileeban (@DhileebanSuriya) July 24, 2023
There’s no 15 min sex scene in Oppenheimer lol who started that rumor? ? The sex scene was so fast I didn’t even realize it was happening and then it ended.
— Janelle (@jnelleiz) July 23, 2023
Gosh they’ve heavily censored Oppenheimer. The screen goes black whenever there’s a sex scene. Curse words muted and removed from subtitles.
They really treat Indian audience as children do they ?
— Aman (@AmanHasNoName_2) July 24, 2023
Can’t blame them, blame the sensor board for this shit. No wonder the OTT is booming in India since couple of years
— Aniket (@anikett_21) July 25, 2023
It was also painfully obvious that they censored Florence Pugh’s topless scene cuz the “black strapless dress” she was “wearing*would slightly wobble around awkwardly @@
Man, now I’m wondering what else I’ve been missing out on due to my country’s censorship ?
— Jo (@joanne_hje) July 23, 2023
If you’re in the MENA region you’re getting a better version of Oppenheimer; the sex scenes were cut, seamlessly.
— Xerge ألخوري (@GergeNick) July 21, 2023
According to reports, Universal Pictures made the cuts to reduce the film’s length and ensure it received a U/A rating from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India. In contrast, the film has been rated R-Restricted in the United States, which means viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian. Notably, this is Nolan’s first R-rated film, raising questions about the director’s creative approach and the impact of the cuts on the film’s narrative.
Oppenheimer has been a topic of discussion for its compelling storytelling and controversial scenes. The film follows the life of US physicist Robert Oppenheimer, with a noteworthy scene showcasing the protagonist reciting a verse from Bhagavad Gita during sexual intercourse.
