Religious unity film divides instead

A movie made to promote religious harmony and tolerance between Hindus and Muslims has had the opposite effect.

Border, by veteran director J. P. Dutta, caused riots in the English city of Leeds when Muslims said it insulted their religion. The film was subsequently taken off the circuit.

Muslims have also objected in various Indian cities, but the movie, running to packed houses, has been acclaimed by many viewers and critics as 'perfectly healthy'.

Dutta is appalled by accusations that the film shows disrespect to Islam, especially in one scene where a Hindu soldier is shown rescuing the Koran, the Islamic holy book, from a burning house. He says people who object to the scene are trying to create controversy where none was intended.

'My film is aimed at national brotherhood, not disintegration,' he said.

Mr Dutta's film tells the story of the battle of Laungewala - during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan - where a group of Hindu and Muslim Indian soldiers hold out against an entire armoured division of the Pakistani Army.