American Hindus Against Defamation
Web : http://www.hindunet.org/ahad/
E-mail : ajay@hindunet.org, chetanp@pacbell.net
-----------------------------------------

Warner Brothers
4000 Warner Blvd
Burbank, CA 91522
Email: wbol-admin@WARNERBROS.COM
Phone: (818) 977-7900 Fax: (818) 977-3135

August 3, 1999 

To Whom It May Concern at Warner 

On behalf of American Hindus Against Defamation
(AHAD), we would like to express serious concerns
about
the inclusion of one of the most prominent Hindu
scriptural quote, in the movie "Eyes Wide Shut". 

Midway in this movie, the character played by Tom
Cruise goes to a mansion where what could best be
described as an orgy party is taking place. When he
enters a large room where several sex acts are
taking place, the background music subsides and the
shloka (scriptural recitation) from Bhagwad Gita, one
of the most revered Hindu scripture is
played out. 

The shloka is : "Parithranaya Saadhunam

Vinashaya cha dushkrithaam 
Dharmasamsthabanarthaya Sambhavami yuge yuge... 

which means:

"For the protection of the virtuous, for the
destruction of the evil and for the firm establishment
of Dharma (righteousness), I take birth and am
incarnated on Earth, from age to age." 

Hundreds of Hindus have contacted us to express their
shock at the use of Hindu scripture as a background
for this scene in the movie. There appears to be no
connection, or apparent justification for the use of
this shloka. It appears to be totally out of
context! 

We, American Hindus Against Defamation are baffled,
disgusted and annoyed by the use of the shloka, and
fail to understand your intent and the relevance of
its usage. We have also been contacted by major media
organizations, including BBC-London, NY Post, etc.,
seeking our comments.

Before we make any comments to them, we have decided
to first contact you and seek a prompt and honest
explanation as to why it was decided to use this scripture during this scene in the movie. We
are not launching a protest at this time, however, we
do request an explanation as soon as possible. 

American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the
pioneer Hindu rights coalition consisting of several
major Hindu organizations. AHAD was responsible for
movement that successfully sought withdrawal of Aerosmith - Nine Lives album cover, and recent
withdrawal of Universal Television's Xena episode "The Way" from circulation. 

For more informatin about AHAD, please contact Ajay
Shah (ajay@hindunet.org) or Chetan Tanna
(chetanp@pacbell.net). 

Sincerely, 
Ajay Shah Convenor, AHAD
Chetan Tanna General Counsel, AHAD