New
Delhi
(UNI):
The
eagerly
awaited
Da
Vinci
Code,
the
film
that
evoked
worldwide
protests
from
Catholic
groups
because
of
controversial
refrences
to
the
life
of
Jesus
Christ,
is
being
released
in
the
country
tomorrow
with
all
the
Censor
Board
conditions
fulfilled.
The
film,
which
has
been
dubbed
in
four
India
Languages,
is
only
for
adult
viewing.
It
will
be
screened
without
any
cuts,
but
will
carry
an
additional
disclaimer.
Censor
Board
regional
officer
Vinayak
Azad
today
told
UNI
over
phone
from
Mumbai
that
the
film
will
carry
a
disclaimer
both
at
the
beginning
and
at
the
end
saying
that
all
the
characters
and
incidents
portrayed
and
the
names
in
it
were
fictitious.
It
will
run
for
15
seconds
each
time
on
every
print
of
the
film.
Producers
Sony
Pictures
had
earlier
resisted
carrying
the
additional
disclaimer
which
has
delayed
the
screening
of
the
film
in
India.
It
was
released
all
over
the
world
on
May
19.
They
had
argued
that
the
film
was
already
carrying
a
legal
statement
at
the
end
that
clearly
tells
the
reader
that
it
was
based
on
a
work
of
fiction.
Mr
Azad
today
said,''The
film
has
to
carry
the
additional
disclaimer
at
the
beginning.
And
that
is
the
Censor
Board
condition
to
which
the
producers
have
agreed.''
Views
of
representatives
of
the
Catholic
Church
were
taken
into
account
before
clearing
release
of
the
film.The
movie
is
Ron
Howard's
adaptation
of
the
Dan
Brown
bestseller,
with
Tom
Hank
in
the
lead
role.The
film
has
already
been
released
in
62
countries
between
May
17
and
19.
Directed
by
Ron
Howard,
the
production
is
an
adaptation
of
Dan
Brown's
novel
that
has
sold
more
than
30
million
copies.
The
novel
turned
controversial
as
it
suggests
Jesus
married
his
female
disciple
Mary
Magdalene
and
had
a
child
with
her,
which
conflicts
with
the
Christian
faith.
The
Da
Vinci
Code,
which
has
generated
231.8
million
dollars
worldwide
in
its
opening
days,
the
second-biggest
film
debut
in
history,
is
now
being
eagerly
awaited
in
the
country.
However,
the
film
may
not
be
screened
in
the
north-eastern
state
of
Nagaland
as
it
has
been
banned
by
the
state
government.
Other
states
in
the
Christian
dominated
North
East
India
have
not
take
up
the
extreme
view
of
the
film.
Four
of
the
seven
states
in
the
region
have
a
Christian
majority.
In
Mumbai,
the
Bombay
High
Court
today
again
refused
to
stay
the
release
of
the
controversial
English
movie
The
Da
Vinci
Code
in
India
and
denied
the
relief
sought
by
the
petitioner.
Vacation
Judge
A
S
Bagga
allowed
the
petitioner,
Joseph
Dias,
to
seek
permission
from
the
State
as
well
as
Central
Governments
to
take
action
against
the
Censor
Board
of
Film
Certification
(CBFC)
and
Sony
Pictures
for
the
release
of
the
film.
Senior
Counsel
Y
R
Mishra,
arguing
on
behalf
of
the
CBFC,
contended
that
no
action
could
be
taken
u/s
295(A)
(deliberate
and
malicious
acts,
intended
to
outrage
religious
feelings
of
any
class
by
insulting
its
religion
or
religious
beliefs)
of
the
Indian
Penal
Code
as
it
requires
sanction
by
the
government
u/s
196
of
Criminal
Procedure
Code
and
therefore,
stay
would
not
be
granted
for
releasing
the
film.
He
also
argued
that
the
film
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
historical
facts
of
the
Christian
community
and
based
on
that
CBFC
had
agreed
to
grant
the
film
'A'
Certificate.
Senior
Counsel
K
G
Menon,
arguing
on
behalf
of
Sony
Pictures,
strongly
opposed
the
petition
and
held
that
it
was
filed
with
malafied
intentions
with
a
view
to
obstruct
the
screening
of
the
film.
Earlier
Advocate
Pradeep
Hanvur,
appearing
on
behalf
of
Dias,
had
suggested
to
the
court
to
view
the
film
before
reaching
any
conclusion.
The
same
was
turned
down
by
the
court
for
lack
of
time.
Earlier,
the
petitioner,
a
social
activist,
had
sought
a
ban
on
the
film
stating
that
the
release
of
the
film
would
hurt
the
religious
sentiments
of
over
25
millions
Catholics
across
the
world.
In
Kochi,
a
Division
Bench
of
the
Kerala
High
Court
today
declined
to
stay
the
permissio
granted
by
the
Central
Film
Certification
Board
for
the
controversial
film
The
Da
Vinci
Code.
The
Bench
comprising
Chief
Justice
V
K
Bali
and
Justice
P
R
Raman,
however,
directed
the
Union
Government
to
consider
and
dispose
the
revision
petition
filed
by
the
petitioner,
Basil
Attippetti,
Nayarambalam,
preferably
within
three
weeks.
The
petitioner
submitted
before
the
Court
that
the
film
The
Da
Vinci
Code
depicted
a
distorted
picture
of
Jesus
Christ
and
it
offended
the
religious
faith
of
the
Christian
community.
He
stated
the
permission
given
by
Central
Film
Certification
Board
was
arbitrary
and
violative
of
the
guidelines
enumerated
under
the
Cinematographic
Act.
But
in
Chandigarh,
the
Punjab
Government
today
decided
to
ban
the
movie
Da
Vinci
Code
in
the
state
in
order
to
maintain
communal
harmony,
peace
and
tranquility.
Disclosing
this
here
today,
a
spokesman
of
the
Department
of
Home
Affairs
and
Justice
said
the
decision
was
taken
after
the
Christian
community
expressed
strong
resentment
against
the
alleged
objectionable
contents
of
this
movie.
There
was
a
possibility
of
violent
confrontation
at
some
places,
particularly
those
having
large
christian
population
he
added.The
movie
was
scheduled
to
be
released
in
the
state
tomorrow.