A big hue and cry has been made about the movie ‘Da Vinci Code’ in India – which is a work of fiction by Dan Brown, who has authored the book after much research and incorporating interesting facts. In fact, the book has numerous readers scurrying on their feet in search of the Holy Grail or at least about the strange / scientific facts / cryptic clues said in the book. Such is the appeal of the book.
The book has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and the figures exclude the pirated versions of the book (being probably sold in much of the poorer countries) which would surely be a staggering number.
The Vatican, though had been initially opposing the book as trash has not banned the book or the film. In India, so much fuss / animosity has been created about the film. Ironically, the book released earlier had not evoked such a response. A clear proof that the number of people reading books are far more fewer than the couch potatoes.
It can be easily be assumed that the few who want the movie to be banned have neither read the book, or have really cared to or only have heard about the movie very recently.
The truth is that drawing so much attention to the picture has fuelled massive public interest in the film making it a moderately successful picture to a more successful one. As a critic rightly remarked that no amount of money could ever buy such publicity.
Much ado has been made about the release of Da Vinci Code. The Indian censor board had reviewed the film and found it fit for release, however with a disclaimer at the beginning and at the end of the picture as a result of the requests / pressure from the Christian community.
The fact that the state has banned the film cleared by a higher body smacks of ill of freedom of expression. Will not a person who is deprived of his right to see the film in his state go to the neighbouring state to see the same picture? Its nothing but mockery of the Central Board of Film Certification by the state.
The decision by the state government to ban the film coming on the heels of the recent elections, stinks of cheap politics. No doubt vote banks play a notable/vital role in the elections. With no party claiming clear majority, they are usually dependent on caste/religion based parties for support.
Whatever the reason, banning the film has not been justified when the book hasn’t been. The delicate question of a person’s faith - whether he really believes in the teaching of the church or is he easily influenced by the theories put forth by the book. Scary, eh?
As someone rightly pointed out at a discussion that pictures that depict rape and violence and likes of it, run to packed houses without a problem of law and order or complaints from the same conservative people who have been calling for a ban on the movie, based on a work of fiction.
Just like all things come to an end, the issue of banning the film is put to an end, with the court order that curtailing the right to expression is not a healthy one in this democratic country. A slap in its face. Serves the state right.
