New Delhi - The Indian government has cleared the screening of 'The Da Vinci Code' in the country, with an 'adults only' certification and a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction, it was announced Thursday.
Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters that the producers of the film had agreed to proposal by representatives of the Catholic Church in India that the film should be preceded by the disclaimer.
A disclaimer stating that 'this movie is a work of pure fiction and does not have any intention to hurt sentiments' would be shown before the film, the IANS news agency reported.
The film can only be seen by adults, as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) would issue an adults only certificate, the minister said.
The controversial film got the go-ahead after Dasmunsi saw the film with representatives of the Catholic Church so they could give their views on it.
Donald De Souza of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) who was at the screening with the minister told the PTI news agency that though the story-line of the film was 'unacceptable,' the film should include the disclaimer.
The film which was due for release on May 19, was put on hold by the Indian government Tuesday, following demands by Christian groups that the film should be banned as it was 'blasphemous.'
But the release of the film has been delayed and it would hit the cinemas across the country early next week, officials said.
The film is based on the best-selling novel by American author Dan Brown, which challenges traditional teachings about the life of Jesus by saying he was married and fathered a child.
The book's plot is a murder-mystery involving a conspiracy by Opus Dei, a real-life conservative Catholic group, to cover up the truth about Jesus' bloodline.
It is estimated that 18 million of India's 24 million Christian population are Roman Catholics. Christians form 2.4 per cent of India's billion-plus population, 82 per cent of whom are Hindus and 12 per cent Muslims.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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