Now the passion of Tina Turner

The Hindu community now finds itself in a debate with Hollywood once again. This time with the proposed Merchant Ivory Productions of Ismail Merhant’s The Goddess. Essentially objection is being taken against the decision by the producers to cast Tina Turner in the divine role of Shakti, the symbol of female power and energy. Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, the Anglo-Indian duo are best known for A Room With A View, Howards End and The Remains Of The Day. In the UK, the protest is most vocal. Hindus are up in arms against a proposal to star Tina Turner, the rock star, as an Indian Goddess in the new British film production. Hindu organisations in Britain are threatening to picket cinemas that show the film, claiming that Turner’s sexually charged stage image is inappropriate for the role. The Hindu Human Rights group (HHR) has also started a petition to have the film altered to reflect the objection.

HHR states to the Merchant-Ivory Productions: “It has come to our attention that your next film project, The Goddess will be based upon the Hindu goddess Kali/Shakti Maa... According to the media reports about the script of the film The Goddess, you are turning Kali Maa into a musical joke, ‘dancing and singing atop of a tiger’. This will be very offensive to her millions of worshippers and a billion Hindus worldwide. Further, you are casting Tina Turner as the Goddess. We have no quarrel with Ms Turner as such, as she is talented but because of her reputation/image as a “sex icon” in most people’s minds, it is improper to cast her as Kali. We strongly object to the making of this film because of its feared offensive portrayal of a Hindu deity and we kindly request you to shelve this project.” Ismail Merchant in a response stated, “Putting these objections in their proper context it is immediately obvious that they are based on misconceptions about the film — our story is based in part on a story in the ‘Kathasaritasagara’ (a vast collection of Indian folk tales) and takes place in ancient India with other parts of the story set in the west.

“Contrary to the accusations of the objectors, nobody is going to sing and dance on the back of a tiger, the Goddess is not going to be half-naked, or a sex symbol. Most importantly, The Goddess is not meant to be a specific representation of a single deity, whether Kali, Laxmi or Durga. She is Shakti, the universal feminine energy, which is manifest in Kali, Durga, Mother Mary, Wicca, and each and every woman on the planet. The film has been conceived in order to celebrate this energy, not denigrate it… The film is being made in a spirit of reverence. Nobody has the right to dictate how one should worship the Goddess — or to discriminate against an artist who seeks to portray her. The Goddess spreads her compassion and her divine wisdom to all people, whether Hindu, or Muslim, or Christian, or atheist. A true devotee should join with us in celebrating a film that will spread the life-affirming message of Devi all over the world.”

HHR in an immediate response stated, “Unfortunately Merchant’s production is based on some fundamental misconceptions about Hindu Dharma. According to our information, the film is about Kali, who is a manifestation of Shakti. Indeed Shakti is manifest in many forms although we would ask you to clarify with Christian groups if Mother Mary is one of them. He also makes an incredible contradiction. On the one hand he claims that Shakti is not represented in a single deity such as Kali or Durga, and then claims that Shakti is universal energy represented in Kali, Durga and Mother Mary. This argument just does not make sense. It is like saying that rain is not water it is only manifest as water. “It appears however that Merchant is dictating exactly how Kali Mata, revered goddess for millions of Hindus, should be portrayed. He talks about her divine wisdom being spread to all, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Atheists. He then has the audacity to preach that a true devotee of Kali should respect his film as a celebration of her.

“But this attitude is insulting. He is dictating how one should revere Kali, and anyone who does not is denigrated as somehow ‘rightwing’. As to Kali’s compassion and divine wisdom being spread to people other than Hindus, then as Hindus we certainly respect the right of others to their beliefs and if they wish to join us in showing respect to the Divine Energy manifest in Kali. However, since we are only here to speak for Hindus, we would urge you to contact representatives of the said communities to elicit their views. In the mean time, we wonder what his views are on the numerous Kali temples, which are being destroyed and desecrated in the world, Bangladesh for example? “As to the issue of discrimination, it is the character and method that Kali is being portrayed that concerns us. He brings up the fact that that Tina Turner is a Buddhist as if it is news to us.

We would urge him to visit our site where he can see that we support the cause of the Tibetan Buddhists and the Richard Gere Foundation.
“The basis of our objection to Ms Turner is that she is a well known sex symbol in the West and the same would apply if an Indian actress who had the pin up sex appeal of Ms Turner, such as the examples found in what is known as Bollywood (like Miss World winner Ashwariya Rai), were to do this. It seems that it is Merchant who is discriminating against Hindus by portraying one of their holy figures in the manner he has chosen.”