Da Vince Code Imbroglio
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has put a temporary halt on Da Vinci Code’s release. It’s a strange decision, and entirely unwarranted, though not very surprising. Of course, why it’s been done is no big surprise. Religion is huge in India – and any religion at that!
Earlier, Water was stalled – to the extent that Deepa Mehta had to shoot the film in Sri Lanka surreptitiously under the guise of making a different film. I have my own reservations against films like Water, especially when they come from film-makers not living in India and their target audiences are not Indians. But I never agreed with reasons forwarded by Hindu fundamentalist in their protest. For all that came across, Water was just another film depicting things existed; if they are hard to swallow, so be it – change those old malpractices if you can!
Much before Water, Mehta had faced the same problem during the screening of Fire. Again, I had my own reservations against that film, much different from what VHP/Shiv Sena wanted us to believe. Fire was a lousy piece of cinema, soporific, slow paced and an insult to lesbians. Like its successor-in-theme corny flick Girlfriend, Fire gave no respectable breathing space to the lesbians’ cause, and was a pretty juvenile attempt at portraying a solemn issue. Just because it had ‘serious’ stars like Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi, it gathered reflected respectability; else, for me it’s a film that deserved to be trashed, and would have drowned unsung in the gutter of box office oblivion had not the Shiv Sainiks jumped to rescue it and flaunt its stinking carcass!
However, at the same time, I am not at all for the ‘freedom of expression’ bullshit forwarded. It sounds paradoxical, but my argument is that there shouldn’t be any direct assault to anyone’s religion. The Danish cartoons were in bad taste. Just as MF Hussain’s nude paintings of Hindu Goddessess. Let’s leave the Gods, Goddessess, Prophets and Messiahs aside; let’s not caricature them; doodle them; or, present them in twisted way. That is not ‘fiction’. That is a deliberate attempt at poking at someone’s idols.
But if there is a fictional account involving them, or some theory, or some untold story by all means go ahead, write it, paint it or make a film but keep the disclaimer ‘a work of fiction’ in bold. Tomorrow if there is a story involving some secret documents involving Lord Rama, I am sure it would make an interesting fictional thriller – as long as it doesn’t insult Lord Rama.
Which, I believe, The Da Vince Code, the book, doesn’t do to Christian God, so I doubt the film version will deviate too much away from its source. To me, the book was a good time pass read; very well thought of, with an exciting pace and adrelanin-rushing narrative flow and an enthralling climax - but just at that; beyond this, I didn’t bother to think to hard. In fact, amongst Dan Brown’s ouvre, I rate Angels and Demons his best work.
Coming back to the original intention of writing this post, my worry is of different kind. Da Vince Code is only a movie version of a book that has been around for quite some time. Why this sudden obsession in banning it? Were the powers-that-be sleeping earlier when the book was selling like hot cakes in India? Wasn’t the religion threatened then?
Or, has it been taken for granted that book reading is such an obscure hobby amongst Indians that even those who bought it wouldn’t have really bothered to much to understand or go through it comprehensively, and most would have bought it just to show that they are ‘up to date’ with the latest best seller? Hence, this brouhaha over the film’s release.
If the matter of contention is only the punchline ‘come and know the truth’ used in the trailors, that is something that the makers need to look into. Surely, they can have it removed to ensure a smooth and trouble-free release. But I feel that is not exactly the real issue. Or again, on second thoughts, it might be – after all, in these days of limited attention span, any controversy is good marketing!
So, what’s your take on this issue? And no, for this you need not SMS at 3535, typing DVC followed by a space and your opinion, nor do you have to call at 1600-11-3535 (whose lines will be forever busy, yet there will thousand responses) ;-P – the comment box below is good enough!
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May 16th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
me first!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
huh..2nd..
May 16th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Me third
May 16th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
will read later…take care
May 16th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Well…I don’t know much abt the banning of DVC and the related stories… but I do take serious objection to banning something just because it put forwards a radical idea. That being said, I do understand the point of view of the dozens of Christians I know, who’ve felt insulted by the book. Non Christians can maybe sit back and take an objective view on it, but religion IS a very sacred and holy thing, and as we know from history, one of the things that evokes a greatest emotional stirrings. But to have a book which says what they’ve believed in for centuries is just a fabricated myth…I’d imagine is going to seriously ruffle some feathers.
May 16th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Ok here goes the roster
Gold - Anubha
Silver - Neetie
Bronze - Parvathi
And now all three of you, read it as well
May 16th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
But yea…all said and done, the banning of the movie is a pretty dumb idea…agreed to that
May 16th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
PARVATHI Yep , you may be right. And there is no doubt that religion IS serious matter. But what i feel is that if such protests/banning had to be done then it should have been done at the book’s release level - y do it now after all those who had to read the book have already done so, and a large percentage of the movie’s viewers are going to be that lot only!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Yup i agree with u…somethings are hyped for no reason at all the same goes for movies like water n fire. but for DVC i really think that maybe it might have rubbed some people the wrong way..but then its a fictional account. though the promos can be modified a bit so as to resolve unwarranted and baseless controversies. As for the movie…i am waiting to see it for all reasons unknown as it did make the grey cells do some excercise unlike other books. and yup Angels and Demons is surely Dan Browns is his best work…and obviously holds a special place for me.
And u marketing those ppl who ask u to message or call them???? paise waise diye ke nahi?
May 16th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
PARVATHI Precisely. That’s y i feel that maybe its a good marketing gimmick involved as well. Hopefully, it will get cleared before 19th (Friday) the day of its scheduled release
ANUBHA Sure DVC has lots of controversy attached to it, to the extent there hv been anti-DVC sites as well , and these sites have meticulously detailed where and how Dan Brown went wrong ( a google search will help ).
About promos not being modified… that sures smells of marketeers at work ;P
LOL , no no no , i hvnt spent any money SMSing or calling anyone - but i m amazed at the amt of SMSing that must be happening. Every radio channel’s every program has something to SMS , then the news channels, then reality shows…phew!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
well marketers at it i must say…always using sleazy techniques
yea i did check those sites…actually was so intrigued by DVC that i was on the net trying to ‘decode’ the truth on my own…detective me 
but seems like u didnt spend any money but hten were u paid money to promote those numbers?
May 16th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
ANUBHA He he , those are fictitious numbers … u shud hv decoded this much … 35 35 on mobile phone will be DJDJ
May 16th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
/:) yea yea whatever ur soooo self obsessed!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Anubha
Am I? I dont think so *making an innocent face*
May 16th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
innocent n u?????? :O keep trying maybe someday u might succeed!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
n u r self obsessed….i can make u count instances!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
crap man.. apne india mein these things and issue sthey make out of religion and under the guise of religious sentiments.. are something that eventually give only pain..
wont say much about it.. otherwise these crapload of religious sentiments of every community may find every word and feeling offensive..
May 17th, 2006 at 6:22 am
Finally..someone thought about it. When I heard about the DVC being banned from theatres, the same question came to my mind. Where were these ppl all this time. Millions of copies of the book have been sold. So why now, when the movie is being released? Were these people not even aware of the book?
Well, now I think the movie is going to be released, but the last 15 mins are going to be taken out (telling that Jesus has heirs that are still alive)
May 17th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Yet another reason for News Channels to be busy 24×7…
May 17th, 2006 at 8:28 am
ME
Sahi kaha … My other point is that while in other countries there have been protests, no where no one is banning the film . So are Indian Christians more Christians than their western counterpart?
May 17th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Mannat Oh is that so? I wasnt aware. In India , they are planning not to release the film altogether, cut or no cut. In fact, the Censor Board in an act of astonishing maturity, passed the film without a single cut though it gave an ‘Adult’ certificate (which hardly matters these days). It’s the I&B Ministry which has jumped into the foray to stall the release! Let’s see kya hota hai …
May 17th, 2006 at 8:31 am
MEHAK - He he , true true
May 17th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Check my blog
May 17th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
hi deepak, my two bit here would be that if the keepers of the religion are certain of their convictions, nothing anyone says should effect them. If their faith is so weak that it will break against Dan Brown’s claims, then all they are doing is proving Dan Brown right.
Banning the movie is not going to do any good and to be frank how many Christians in India are going to watch that movie? certainly not more than those who read the book which by all means communicates much more than the movie can.
Waise all this religious talk one side, my main regret is not being able to watch Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, his brows furrowed in concentration and eyes puzzled as he cracks the codes one after the another. Sad *sign*
May 17th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
I’ve not read the Da Vinci code yet and was waiting to watch the film.
I watched the headline of the news yesterday and known what could be the news. And you are right that the books was bestseller here in Nepal too so it should be done with the book too but why they are so much controversy only for film!!!!
And this controversy reminded me the saying of Osho when he was not been allowed to land on one of the state of America. Then he said that what kind of your religion that you have been following since thousands years and that would be spoiled by my two hours staying……
Religion and it’s values all depends on the thoughts and mind set of people and some use, misuse and abuse as their convenience.
But one thing you know that this controversy really gonna to make the film a BIG hit even before it releases.
Just waiting for to watch the film
as I don’t wanna hold the book for days to finish it 
(You know how fast reader am I 
)
May 17th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
What? these ppl sleeping when these theories were first brought forward?? these ideas havent suddenly sprung up, you know., have been around for centuries. but i guess banning something just gives it more publicity and generates more interest in the issue…agree with your take on ‘Fire’..hated it myself.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
email check karo.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
MEHAK Thanks so much for the mention on ur post
PRIYANGINI
And here I thought ke Indian culture was the only weak thing jo har chhoti moti film/ day/ Archies outlet etc se khatre mein padh jaata hai
But I guess Indian Christianity is vastly different from the western one. The film is opening at Cannes festival! And here normal release ke pange padh rahe hain!
SILKY MOON True … isnt it releasing in Nepal ? Or , is the release there dependent on Indian release here?
May 17th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
RS They must hv been sleeping
Oh great, u agree with me on Fire, most people get taken up by the ’serious’ tag of the film and dont criticise it 
PRI Replied to ur mail
May 17th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
arre DJ no thank u’s…
May 17th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
for once, i would agree with the point priyangini raises about the weak faith n all.. and its not just christanity.., time and again.. hindus and muslims have equally and shittily proved the shallow depths of religion..
May 17th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
do they have to play games wid almost every new thing?!
leave us alone!
May 18th, 2006 at 8:31 am
MEHAK
ME… Religion and ‘Indian culture’ seem to be the weakest thing in India that get threatened at the drop of hat!
HARRY Yep!
May 18th, 2006 at 9:09 am
First of all, nayi, dedicated website ki bahut bahut padhaiyan!! Fir Hindustaan ki sarzamin per waapas settle honey ki padhaiyaan! Uncle and Aunty must be ecstatic to say the least!
May 18th, 2006 at 9:11 am
As far as Da Vinci code is concerned, I really find the whole thing amusing. It is released in wets with much fan fare, but temporarily banned India.
Must say - Some Christians Are More Christians Than Others
May 18th, 2006 at 10:04 am
arre, no new post, I was beginning to feel you would be churning out one everyday. waise Dilli aaj kal kaafi news mein ha med students ki hadtaal ko lekar, wht’s ur take on that?
May 18th, 2006 at 11:35 am
MANISH Warm welcome to this site also
Yep its good to be back home …
Well, seems Indian Christians are more Christians than their western counterpart… its being released in Europe, the heart of Christianity…
PRI LOL nahi nahi , nothing new in mind … I m against any reservations , so the support for hadtal …
May 18th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
My take? Read it at Anks’ Ramblings!
May 18th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Personally i feel its all a publicity stunt. N even if its not, I dont see any logical reason to ban the film. Its a pure work of fiction. What could possibly go wrong?
May 18th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
mail padho sirji.
May 18th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
You know that everything comes in Nepal via India. So I think if it is banned in India then automatically it’s banned in Nepal too. Waise, nothing such propaganda happening here against the DVC.
And about Fire and Water, I’ve not seen the film Fire yet and the Water - half watched so I can’t put my views on those matter
.
May 18th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
whatever might be the controversy, i want to see this film!!!
May 18th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
ANKS Read it and commented
MIRAGE Seems unlikely to be only publicity stunt - y wud the distributors here delay their own film. Yeah , seems a publicity stunt by all those organisations. True, its a work of fiction, whose source has been around for ages, and whose release is happening in more Christian dominated countries!
Warm welcome here … hope to see u regular!
May 18th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
PRIYANGINI Mail padha ji
SILKY MOON So u hv been kind of saved of that controversy. Waise, lots of happening in Nepal these days. I m not too sure if i like the ’secular’ bit though. Arre, ek toh Hindu country thi , woh bhi nahi hai ab!
PRASAD Well, i think u might just be able to catch it (edited/censored version that is)
May 19th, 2006 at 8:49 am
Hi Deepak
Have been following your blog for quite a while now. I live in Sydney and most of my colleagues and friends here are christians. DVC was released here yesterday and although someof them do not agree with the book or the movie, there was never a thought about banning anything. It’s a work of fiction and should be treated like one. I wonder why in India we always overreact about anything even faintly religious.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:21 am
hi deepak,
the silsila of half-centuries and centuries is not new to you but on this blog, i intend to make the first half century. So I shall write nonsense for the next 4 comments.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:24 am
aur batao aaj kal kya kar rahe ho, kuchh kaam dhaam dhoondha ki nahi? and what about the writing? ab toh naya laptop bhi le liya, ab iss blog par ishtory kab aayegi?
May 19th, 2006 at 10:24 am
maine suna dilli mein iss saal bahut garmi hai? kya koi laut aaya hai isliye temp badh raha hai?
May 19th, 2006 at 10:26 am
and i am mad coz rediff is up to its old self and not opening and I want to read your reply but can’t so i am really irritated.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:27 am
ab 50 ho gaya toh shagun bhi le lo. Congratulations on the first half century on deepakjeswal.com.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:29 am
aur yeh shagun. 51.
May 19th, 2006 at 11:34 am
ANU A very warm welcome here. Hope to see u as a regular.
Yeah that’s what na - Indian Christians seem to be more Christian than others. Then there is the Sonia Gandhi factor u know … i just read that in the newspapers today that since she’s a Christian they didnt want her to be upset with the movie … how silly is that! It’s worse than pandering to dictatorship!
Anyways, seems we will get a late release sans any cuts thankfully!
PRIYANGINI Thanks a ton for the 50
On this one it will be a bit tough to achieve it since I reply in a single comment usually LOL
Arre laptop nahi, i bought a normal desktop PC - can t afford a laptop
Waise, is ur lappie there now with u ?
Uh oh… stupid rediff again! Arre tum ek account gmail mein kyun nahin kholti … its a better mail service…need an invite?
May 22nd, 2006 at 1:23 pm
I am an Indian Christian.
I have read the Da Vinci Code.
And this is what I have to say: I think it is totally up to a person to decide what he/she wants to watch or not. I do think that faith is something that cannot be wavered by a book or a comic strip.
I do believe that the book has been over rated. But finally what you watch is up to you. I believe that the Information & Broadcasting Ministry in India just wants to act concerned. So to all you fans of the book or the movie I would just say, Go Watch It. As for me the movie would just be as close to reality as watching Harry Potter.
May 22nd, 2006 at 4:27 pm
TABS - A warm welcome to this site
Hope to see u as a regular!
It’s good to hear a Indian Christian’s voice here, since we hv all been more or less speculating on their behalf. And I think u hv summed it up very very well.
Will visit ur blog soon.
Keep returning!
June 2nd, 2006 at 10:31 pm
you might want to read my views about the book and movie, although, not very necessary since your topic of discussion is different. i’ve updated them since your first comment.
but you bring in a good point; why ban the movie in india when the book has been around for quite some time? i was not aware of this since i’m not in mumbai now. but i’m not new to the indian methodologies of banning flims; a controversial film HAS to be banned, it’s a process of evolution for the film and the director. controversial films are one of my personal favorites. a film that gets banned is a must-see.
June 2nd, 2006 at 10:34 pm
btw, can you share your template:D?
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:52 am
HIPPY - A warm welcome here
Hope to see u as a regular here 
Read ur updated review as well.
My template is Wordpress’s default one.