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India lines up for 'Da Vinci'

Pic opened in 11 theaters in Southern Kerala

By BRYAN PEARSON, SHALINI DORE

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Despite five Indian states banning "The Da Vinci Code," pic unspooled to full houses in the state with the largest Christian population in India on Friday.

English- and Malayalam-language versions of the pic opened in 11 theaters in southern Kerala.

One exhib in Kochi said lines formed around the block. Although the pic was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification of India, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Goa, Meghalaya and Nagaland nixed the pic fearing its themes would incite religious unrest.

The last three have sizable Christian populations. But in rural Mizoram, which neighbors Meghalaya and Nagaland and has a majority Christian population, church leaders have not opposed pic's release.

"The Da Vinci Code" opened to packed houses May 26 and netted 30 million rupees ($648,000) in its opening weekend in India.