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By Boon Chan
Mike Myer's latest comedy, The Love Guru, which is coming to Singapore soon, has been rated NC16 by the Board of Film Censors (BFC) in Singapore for its raunchy humour.
The censors have received feedback that the 90-minute film, released in the US and Canada on June 20, might be 'religiously sensitive,' said the Media Development Authority (MDA) in a statement on Tuesday.
It will come with the 'Sexual humour' advice to moviegoers when it opens in cinemas here on Sept 4.
The made-in-Toronto movie, starring Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, and Ben Kingsley, is about Guru Pitka who is approached by a Canadian hockey team owner to reconcile their star hockey player, Roanoke, with his estranged wife. Using unconventional methods, the guru manages to bring the couple together.
Hindus as well as non-Hindus have been boycotting the movie in America and Canada, and protests are reportedly being planned in India and Australia when it is shown there by various organisations.
The BFC here referred the film to the Films Consultative Panel (FCP).
'In their view, the film is a comedy and a work of fiction. It does not denigrate any religion. However, because it contains crude, sexual humour, the BFC has decided to rate the film NC16 with the consumer advice 'Sexual humour,' said the MDA statement.
Mr Vijay Chandran, chairman of the Films Consultative Panel, said: 'The FCP recommends an NC16 rating in view of the film's sexual humour. The film is really an over-the-top comedy about a new age spiritual guru who spouts simplistic oriental pseudo-wisdom.'
Mr Rajan Zed, a Hindu leader in Nevada, US, who spearheaded the boycott campaign, is reported as saying that the movie appears to be lampooning Hinduism and using Hindu terms frivolously.
'Hinduism, followed by one billion people should not be taken lightly,' he said.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared the movie 'morally offensive' and slapped it with its highest rating 'O'.
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