Ban on Code
The Da Vinci Code has been banned in Tamil Nadu by the state government on the grounds that the film is liable to hurt the sentiments of the Christians. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t find the movie at Satyam tomorrow. Here is the Chronicle story of the ban.
Christians are opposing the movie’s contention, albeit fictional, that Christ had a daughter with Mary Magdalene and that the bloodline continues to this day. The movie also potrays Sophia Nevue, the female lead played by a French actress, as the Holy Grail.
Dan Brown’s book of the same name has sold 60 million copies worldwide and has been credited with reviving the publishing industry itself.
Minority appeasement has no bounds in TN ( !Flamebait ) . Its just a movie i dont understand what the big deal is . On the other hand people in TN have been spared from watching a terrible movie.
They can ban the movie in theatre. They cannot ban stores selling video CDs and DVDs. I visited a DVD libraray today. People were already asking the store owner when they’d get a copy.
does anybody think this was a good think? like for example that the ban may have been imposed in the larger interest of communal harmony. we dont want fundamentalists destroying theatres….
would it be all right then to the ban the movie if it had not been so bad. that’s the question.
The point is, the movie released in several theatres from around the World. Was there bloodshed and communal violence? Atleast 60% of the people watching the movie would have read the book (to put it mildly), so why does it matter to ban?
From my knowledge of the Cinematograph Act, ‘the ban’ is not legally tenable!
the ban is not being done on any grounds other than it will appease the section of christians asking for it. no one really values right to freedom of expression much here. the only organisation that wanted the ban lifted is the Hindu Munnani. isnt that a crying shame? that the voice of protest should against come from the fundamentalists and not from any liberal who value’s the audience’s right to watch the film. and of the artists to show their audience the film.
the film of course is a massive hit, as bad as it is. this is hit has been fuelled by the controversy.
I was really surprised to read that the “Da Vinci Code” – movie is banned in TN. Did they also ban the book?
For me coming from an mostly christian country the whole discussion about this movie seems to be a genial publicity gag. It’s the biggest possible advert for this movie. Maybe the producer has agents at the vatican …
But to be serious there have been more shocking movies than this one. Like “The Name of the Rose” written by Umberto Eco.
Some weeks ago we had a discussion in the medias if MTV-Germany should broadcast “Pope Town” a cartoon about the pope and the vatican. MTV made an whole-evening-discussion-event with representatives of the liberal, the christian party and viewers, before showing the first part of “Pope Town”. After that there was a vote if the viewers want MTV to show all parts of this TV series furthermore. The total of attendances had been extremly high and they voted for it. I must confess I also got that curious that I watched it but after all in my opinion it was boring and childish as hell. Now a few weeks later nobody talks about it anymore and I’m sure in a few months all the talking about the Da Vinci Code is done.
@Nessie: Sure “The Name of the Rose” has its own share of controversial moments, no where close to “Da Vinci Code”, though.
@nessie
The book is very much available. the ban is very much tenable and has been successful implemented. well why cant the state ban a movie? it’s of course legal.
and guys, the name of the rose was in different league. that is literature. dan brown writes pulp fiction. besides was eco’s novel made into a movie? i dont know. must have been low profile.
it’s ironical that something tagged as a marketing ploy prevents the movie itself from being watched.
Nandu: From my reading of the Cinematograph Act, I don’t think the ban is legal, and I am surprised no one else brought this up. Well, why can’t a State Government ban a movie?… quite simply because according to the 7th schedule of the Indian Constitution, film exhibition is the Union List and not in the State or Concurrent list. Plus sec 13 of Cinematograph Act is directed at Local Govts. at UT level. That’s why, not because I think so.
Nevertheless, am actually waiting for a legal second opinion before making bigger statements.
And The Name of the Rose is very much a movie…and not very low profile either… directed by Jean Jaques Annaud and starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater.
“Rose” was made into a movie alright – a bad one at that.
i agreed with anand that i didnt know the name of the rose was made into a movie. may be it was bad and flopped.
the code should have flopped too. but it didnt. i think it now holds the record for best opening after spiderman.