I wrote a column about a week before the movie’s June 20 big-screen premiere, specifically focusing on a boycott of the film led by Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism.

The movie features comedian Mike Myers as a guru named Pitka.

Zed and some other Hindu leaders believe the move ridicules Hinduism, its concepts and terminology.

In a news release sent out today, Zed said that Hindu leader Bhavna Shinde has contacted Wal-Mart and other retailers about the film, including Amazon.com, Netflix, Blockbuster, Best Buy, Circuit City and Barnes and Noble among others.

“This film has hurt the feelings of the Hindu community worldwide … we request you to understand the pain of worldwide Hindus and other spiritual people. We request you to refuse to handle/sell/rent the DVDs of ‘The Love Guru’,” Shinde wrote.

According to Zed’s release, he and some others in the Hindu community believe their boycott and attention drawn to it helped cause the movie’s relatively lukewarm box office receipts. 

Guess as far as these leaders are concerned, there’s still no love lost for Mike and his movie. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor