THE DA VINCI CODE - INDIA REFUSES TO BAN DA VINCI CODE

India's Supreme Court has dismissed petitions from Christian groups and refused to ban THE DA VINCI CODE unilaterally. The presiding judges argued that no predominantly Christian country has banned the film, which is an adaptation of DAN BROWN's bestselling novel based on the theory JESUS CHRIST married MARY MAGDALENE and produced a bloodline. Of India's one billion population, only two per cent are Christians. The film's release has been delayed in India due to the opposition, but has now been cleared by The Censor Board and will be shown without cuts, although there will be a disclaimer at the start stressing it is fictitious. Indian states which have individually banned the film include Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Punjab, Goa and Tamil Nadu.