For favor of publication/
Hindus urge Brazilian popular TV soap opera makers to depict “authentic Hindu culture”
Hindus have urged the makers of “Caminho das Índias” (A Passage to India), a popular Brazilian television soap opera, to show the Hindu culture in its authentic form.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Hindus world over were happy that Brazil’s largest TV channel “TV Globo” was propagating Hindu culture in South America, but he urged it to do thorough research into Hindu traditions before presentation and depict genuine Hindu culture and not the re-imagined version focusing just on audience ratings.
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees. If TV Globo needed any expertise on Hinduism related issues, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the resources, Zed added.
To satisfy thus created curiosity about Hinduism and its various aspects, Rajan Zed urged TV Globo to conduct workshops for public by experts on Hinduism and Hindu culture in cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Recife, Manaus, and Port Alegere.
Moreover, television was a forceful medium and it could create stereotypes in the minds of some audiences. So it should handle faith/culture related subjects very carefully, Zed stressed.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly, Rajan Zed pointed out.
Broadcasted since January 19 last, this soap opera is one of the Brazil's highest-rated programs. It has created a stir with its record audience rates. It is love story showcasing India’s culture and lifestyle. Directed by Roberto Carminati, Frederico Mayrink, Leonardo Nogueira, Luciano Sabino, Marcos Schechtman, its estimated budget is reportedly about BRL 1,000,000,
South America’s most influential nation and economic giant Brazil houses vast rain forests and Roman Catholicism is its dominant faith.
