Dancing with the Buddha

What does an image of the Buddha have to do with a romantic comedy about a 1980s pop star who finds new love? Music and Lyrics, a Warner Bros production starring the hugely bankable talents of Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore is to all intents and purposes a feel-good romantic comedy. Released in February this year, the film with a PG_13 listing directed by Marc Lawrence drew mixed reviews from the critics but topped the UK box office. In North America, it had similar success, debuting at No. 4 and generating $19 million in its first week.

The story is simple, centring on a washed out ‘80s pop star Alex Fletcher played by Hugh Grant who is asked to write a song for a seductive young teen sensation Cora Corman a la Britney Spears (Haley Bennett). Fletcher has to come up with a song in just a few days and he finds an unlikely ally in Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), an English Literature major who comes to his home to care for his plants.

She has considerable lyrical talents though completely lacking in confidence in her own abilities following a disastrous love affair. Their efforts to come up with a winning combination of music and lyrics see romance blossoming along the way.

So far, so good. But the shock comes at the tail end of the film, when Cora having taken a fancy to the song decides to introduce an Indian-style element to it which Sophie detests. The song is to be performed at the first concert on her new tour. The suspense builds as the stage is revealed with the dramatic backdrop of a huge figure shrouded in cloth.

It is only when the wraps come off that it is revealed that this is an image of the Buddha. As the image revolves on stage, the back opens and a cloaked figure emerges. It is Cora who throws off her cloak to show off her scantily clad figure while performing with similarly clad dancers. The film ends with Alex and Cora performing the song in its original form. All’s well and the lovers are reunited backstage.

The image of the Buddha placed in such a context has shocked local viewers who have seen the film. But what recourse do they have to complain? “Unfortunately, the government doesn’t have a law to take any action regarding the complaints on misuse of religious affairs, other than the civil law,” Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Moral Uplift, P. Kodituwakku said.

The Buddha Sasana Act that has been formulated and handed over to the Cabinet for approval is yet to be implemented. “The President has appointed a subcommittee headed by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to discuss with the Mahanayakas regarding the issues raised in the Act before forwarding it for Cabinet approval,” Mr. Kodituwakku added. But until such time as the Act is passed, there is little recourse.

Ven. Daranagala Kusaladhamma Thera, Chief Incumbent of Sri Sambodhi Viharaya, who filed a case in the Supreme Court in 2006 on a similar case of misuse of religious symbols, said that the court decision is yet to be given.

“Though the final decision is yet to be given, the Court has ordered that any religious image should not be used in a way to insult a religion till the final verdict is given,” the Thera added.

He further said that he had got to know of a stage drama produced under the name, “Thathagatha Kolama”. “Thathagatha” is a word used for Lord Buddha and to use it with such a word insults our religious leader,” he said adding that he is looking for specific details on the people behind the drama to take action against it.

Commenting on the film ‘Music and Lyrics’, the Thera said that he would be speaking to the relevant embassies and would try to seek legal advice to take action against it. “I will act immediately,” he added.

The film’ s content has not been missed by reviewers. Writing on Plugged-in Online, a website with focus on the family, Christopher Lyon describes it thus: “Pop idol Cora's shallow, style-conscious interest in Zen Buddhist spirituality and Indian music is both played for laughs and pointed to as offensive to those cultures.

She always bows in greeting with her hands together in the prayer position. Dancers in a sexually-charged music video bow toward a Buddhist temple. Her concert opens when she emerges from a giant Buddha statue on stage.”

‘Music and Lyrics’ was released in February 2007 and with its star cast which includes Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett as well as Grant and Barrymore would have been watched by millions of viewers around the world.