Da Vinci Code? Not In India It Seems

Well not yet anyway according to a link via India Uncut. It appears the Indian Film board (Information and Broadcasting Ministry) have put the Da Vinci Code on hold, pending a review viewing with Catholic groups.

However, according to the HIndustan Times (no online link for the article), the film was passed with an “A” rating on Monday (though they did also report a planned review viewing for today with Catholic community leaders). The HT article also suggested widespread dissapointment amongst the country’s Catholic lobby groups concerning the decision, including a planned “fast-unto-death” by the Catholic Social Forum.

The government regulators are on shaky ground here as they have, in the recent past, acted swiftly to censor or cut other films so as to protect religious sensitivites. If the censors were to pass the film uncut, or without restriction, then it would either be a precedent they could not sustain, or an act of hyprocrisy,

Personally, I hope the government do release the film (with a warning if need be) and that the protests die down a little (yes, I am being utopian). The Da Vinci Code is a work of pure fiction (not even historical fiction) and in the long run I believe it is better for Catholics and other Christians in this country to demonstrate that they have the ability to distinguish faith from fiction is a wise and compassionate way. To act as though a film is a threat to the faith is a poor witness.

[tags] Da Vinci Code [/tags]