The Bombay HC has asked the Board to file a reply to objections raised against the movie Sacred Evil by a Christian group and an individual who have said it offended their religion.
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked the Censor Board to file a reply to objections raised against the movie Sacred Evil by a Christian group and an individual who have said it offended their religion.
After previewing the Sacred Evil, the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) and Garry Coelho were firm in their views that the movie offends Christians and filed separate affidavits in the high court, stating in detail their objections.
Coelho said in his affidavit "the movie is blasphemous and makes a mockery of basic tenets of Christianity".
The movie revolves around the theme of evil spirits possessing a person. Characters in it are shown to be church functionaries. According to Coelho, some scenes "convey an impression that convents are places where evil resides and abnormal apparitions occur".
He claimed such movies violate guidelines in the Cinematograph Act as "they promote obscurantism and anti-scientific thinking". The film also stereotypes Catholics as "drunkards" and "jobless" persons, he said.
Coelho also objected to a love song set inside a church and to certain reference to Jesus Christ in the film. He reiterated his and CSF's earlier objection to the film's posters, alleging they associated the sacred cross with evil spirits.
Joseph Dias of CSF expressed similar views, saying he was opposed to the "very idea of nuns getting involved with occult and witchcraft and the same being passed off as a true story". Sacred Evil claims to be based on a real story by Ipsita Ray Chakravarty.
Dias said that if Sacred Evil is based on a true story, the producer should produce affidavits from the real-life persons who witnessed or experienced the events shown in the movie.
Dias and Coelho have also objected to the Censor Board giving a U/A certificate to the movie.
Dias has said the movie's contents can attract section action under section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code relating to outrage of religious feelings.
Sacred Evil is slated for release on Friday.
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