WASHINGTON: Hindus in the US, who are protesting against the release of controversial film 'The Love Guru', have appealed to a top American rating body for assigning the movie grade 'NC-17' so that nobody under 17 can watch it.
The movie currently has 'PG-13' rating provided by the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) of the US which means 'parents are strongly cautioned, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13'.
Hindu groups are protesting against the release of the movie, alleging it 'lampoons their religion and beliefs'.
The film allegedly portrays 'guru' (teacher), who is sacred and associated with the divine as per the Hindu religious beliefs, in a bad light.
"Cinema is a powerful medium and it can create stereotypes in the minds of some audiences, especially in the minds of younger audiences, who are passing through an impressionable phase. We do not want our next generation to be growing up with a distorted view of Hinduism and Hindus," Rajan Zed, a Hindu leader spearheading the protests said in a statement.
"If Paramount Pictures and Viacom, the presenters of the film, continue with their anti-Hindu stance we will consider launching a worldwide boycott of their products, and will stop any dealing with the companies," Bhavna Shinde, a representative of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, said.
'The Love Guru' is a comedy starring Mike Myers of 'Austin Powers' fame and is set to be released on June 20. The main character in the film is raised in an 'ashram' in India and then moves to the US as 'Guru Pitka' to seek fame and fortune.
