'The Code' in Telugu now

• Local distributor announces film's release on July 7
• 40 theatres across the State to screen Telugu version
• Sony Pictures does not confirm release, as film has been sold to distributor

HYDERABAD: A few quiet days after protesters forced Prasad's IMAX to pull `The Da Vinci Code' off the screen, the movie and its baggage of controversy are back.

With the local distributor of the movie, Laxmi Ganapathi Pictures reportedly announcing that it would release the Telugu version on July 7 with police security in about 40 theatres across the State, Christian groups have once again raised their flags of dissent.

Guarded reaction

Sony Pictures, which released the film's original version English, however, was guarded in its reaction. Its spokesperson from Mumbai said they were not in a position to confirm the release as they had sold the rights to the local distributor.

On Sunday, the youth wing of the National Congress of Indian Christians (NCIC) questioned the Government's delay in filing an appeal in a higher court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier given the nod for the movie's screening in the State.

Group's demand

In a statement, the outfit's president C.A. Daniel Adams said the Government had gone on record on June 24 saying that it was "committed to ban the film" and that it would go for an appeal. However, authorities have remained silent after that, Mr. Adams alleged. He demanded steps to prevent the film from being screened, especially after the local distributor had even announced the date.

All India Christian Joint Action Committee has decided to stage dharnas and take out protest rallies if distributors continued to screen `The Da Vinci Code' at Imax.

The Joint Action Committee in a release said that Christians had already expressed their reservations against screening of the film.

Courtesy: The Hindu