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Sony says no to disclaimer at start of film

Sony says no to disclaimer at start of film

Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 20, 2006

Sony Pictures has rejected the censor board's notification that a disclaimer has to be put at the start and end of the film The Do Vinci Code to clarify that it is a work of fiction.

In a press release, Sony Pictures said it appreciates the 'adults' certificate being given for the movie without any cuts asked for by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

However, since the film already includes a legal card at the end stating that the characters and incidents are fictitious, the company does not believe any addition al or modified language is required to restate the same.

The legal card reads, "The characters and incidents portrayed and the names herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any person is entirely coincidental and unintentional."

The note also states that the CBFC's request for the text has resulted in delaying the film's release. However, Vinayak Azad, regional officer of the censor board, said, "I don't think they have rejected the order for a disclaimer, but we will definitely be scrutinising the language that has been used in the disclaimer. Although the language may not be the same, at least the intention that the film is a work of fiction should definitely be there in it."

The CBFC gave the film an 'A' rating subject to the addition of the disclaimer at the start and end of the film stating. "The film is a work of pure fiction and has no correspondence to historical facts of the Christian religion."

Meanwhile, the Bombay high court on Friday declined to stay the release of the movie even as it adjourned a petition seeking a ban on the movie to June, when the court reopens after summer vacations.

Vacation judge K J Rohee said the petition was "premature" since the censor board was still in the process of issuing the film a certificate. The petition, filed by Joseph Dias of the Catholic Secular Forum, urged the court to stay the release of the movie and initiate action under Section 295A of the IPC against the censor board, Sony Pictures and the film's distributors for hurting the religious sentiments of Christians. Advocate Pradeep Havnur asked that the movie be screened for the judge to decide the case.

The film, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Dan Brown, stars Tom Hanks. The petitioners are against the premise used in the movie that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and fathered a child. The petitioners also objected to the portrayal of the Roman Catholic church and the Opus Dei sect.

Meanwhile, city advocate G Coelho has filed another petition seeking a ban on the movie Sacred Evil. The case will come up for hearing on May 22.


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