ISKCON Weighs-in on Weighty Issue: 'Love Guru'

BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Jun 21, DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (DALLAS MORNING NEWS) — 'Love Guru' movie may be more offensive to fans of humor than it is to Hindus.

In the roll-up to the release of the Mike Myers flick "The Love Guru" my e-box had its fair share of pre-screening protests by a couple of American Hindu leaders who said the film would put their faith in a bad light. Maybe so, maybe not. But the secular reviews indicate the audience exposure may not be huge. Here's a link to the DMN's review by Chris Vogner, who didn't love it but didn't hate it. But my fave nugget is from the NYTimes evaluation by A.O. Scott:

Which might sum up "The Love Guru" in its entirety but only at the risk of grievously understating the movie's awfulness. A whole new vocabulary seems to be required. To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious. The word "unfunny" surely applies to Mr. Myers's obnoxious attempts to find mirth in physical and cultural differences but does not quite capture the strenuous unpleasantness of his performance. No, "The Love Guru" is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again.

At the jump, a reax from ISKCON, the Hare Krishna folks. (Hint: Satire is OK.) On June 20, 2008, The Love Guru hits theaters, amidst controversy that the film is offensive in its depiction of Hindu themes. In a notable departure from other Hindu organizations, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement, released a statement rejecting calls to protest the movie, and encouraging others to view the film with tolerance and a sense of humor. ISKCON represents Vaishnavism, often considered the largest denomination within Hinduism. The movement claims a significant number of non-Indian devotees.

"Having seen the film in its entirety, we find it to be a typical satire that does not intend to hurt religious sentiments," the statement said, and encouraged other Hindus "to view the film in its context as a comedy, and to draw on the tolerance and broadmindedness that are hallmarks of our faith."

Hindu groups had raised concerns, based on the film's promotional trailers and posters, that the raunchy comedy would denigrate the faith. By contrast, the ISKCON statement said that "while the level of humor contained in the film may not be uplifting" it could possibly "lead to increased tolerance, dialogue, and understanding between Hindus and non-Hindus."

ISKCON North America's Official Statement on The Love Guru

"On June 20, 2008, Paramount Pictures releases The Love Guru nationwide. The film tells the story of Guru Pitka (Mike Myers), a westerner raised at an Indian ashram, who grows up to be a high-profile and eccentric holy man come west.

While the level of humor contained in the film may not be uplifting, the comedy has drawn significant attention even before its official opening - both pro and con - and from Hindu-Americans concerned that it violates appropriate boundaries in dealing with a religious subject.

On behalf of the North American chapters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Vaishnava, or devotional Hindu organization with an ethnically diverse membership, we understand that many Hindus are concerned that the film may mock their faith. At the same time, having seen the film in its entirety, we find it to be a typical satire that does not intend to hurt religious sentiments.

While we respect the rights of others within the community to draw their own conclusions, we disagree with the calls to protest or boycott the film. We encourage the Hindu-American community to view the film in its context as a comedy, and to draw on the tolerance and broadmindedness that are hallmarks of our faith.

The Love Guru is a satire, a genre that typically replaces reality with contradictions and exaggerations. If however, some mistake satire for truth, then rather than be angered, we could take the opportunity to clarify misrepresentations and educate others about our authentic traditions. If approached in a constructive and proactive way, the film may even lead to increased tolerance, dialogue, and understanding between Hindus and non-Hindus.

We believe that pressuring filmmakers to censor, re-rate, or otherwise limit their artistic freedom is generally antithetical to the spirit of pluralism and tolerance within the Vedic, or Hindu culture. We recognize that, in certain cases, media depictions may so egregiously distort or maliciously denigrate our faith that boycotts, petitions, and other acts of protest are warranted. The Love Guru, however, is not such a case.

Members of most faith traditions are sensitive about aspects of their tradition being used as sources of humor. However, The Love Guru reminds us that it is wise for people of faith to also maintain a sense of humor--and to take the time to laugh (even at ourselves) once in a while."

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness,
North American Office of Communications

And in a related Press Release, the Hindu American Foundation (Washington D.C.) reports "The Love Guru" is Vulgar but not Hinduphobic, Say Hindus Attending Special Preview

"Bowing to continued pressure from the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) demanding a pre-screening of the film, "The Love Guru," Paramount Pictures requested the Foundation to view the film just hours before its release last night. More than two dozen members of the local Hindu community gathered at a movie theater in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with Foundation leaders to take in a screening of the film and then met to fill out a special survey and offer comments and criticisms. HAF agreed to view the film, even at the eleventh hour, to be able to inform the Hindu American community in light of concerned inquiries that have been pouring into its national headquarters.

The film depicts Mike Myers as the "Guru Pitka," an American raised in India to missionary parents, who establishes an ashram in California seeking fortune as a self-help expert. The story follows the character as he seeks fame in bringing together a hockey player and his estranged wife. The film is portrayed as a satirical spoof of self-help coaches, referring to Deepak Chopra several times, but the film's main character is clearly inspired by Hindu spiritual leaders from India gleaned from the attire and mannerisms of Myers' character.

"The film was vulgar, crude and, in the opinion of many of our attendees, too often tasteless in its puerile choice of humor," said Aseem Shukla, member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. "Very few of the Hindus viewing the film, however, found it overtly anti-Hindu or mean-spirited, indeed no Hindu or Sanskrit terms beyond 'guru' or 'ashram' are ever used in the film. But given the costumes and overall concept of the film, Paramount would have done well to issue a disclaimer in the opening sequence that the characters and events are not based on Hindu spiritual masters."

Viewers filling out the survey were unanimous in their opinion that popular media's coverage of Hinduism does not accurately reflect the belief systems and practices of Hindus, and most agreed that the film will be widely seen as a satire of a Hindu character--though this is never overtly stated in the film. But the same majority of respondents denied that the average American viewer of the film will assume that the "teachings" of the Myers character are based on precepts of Hinduism.

"This film was so over-the-top as a satire, that it could not be mistaken with real Hindu traditions," said Shyam Shivramakrishnan, a University of Minnesota doctoral student and HAF member attending the screening. "Those who ridicule Hindus based on this film would be using the movie as a pretext to exhibit pre-formed biases--it is unlikely to create new ones."

Still, many of the Foundation members expressed unease that since widespread understanding of Hinduism and its core teachings is so limited, this film does nothing to promote tolerance and pluralism, and may reinforce widely held negative and exotic stereotypes of Hindus and their spiritual leaders.

"The mass media, and especially prominent studios must move away from such ridiculous caricatures of Hindus and Indians--in that sense, another opportunity was lost," added Sivakumaran Raman, a health care consultant also based in Minneapolis.

The film opens today in theaters across the nation and has largely been panned by movie critics from all major media outlets.

The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. Contact HAF at 1-301-770-7835 or on the web at www.HAFsite.org."


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ishani Chowdhury
Hindu American Foundation
Director of Public Policy
Office: 301.770.7835
Fax: 301.770.7837