‘Agnes of God’ staged despite Catholic protests

MUMBAI: A controversial play about a nun who gives birth to a child premiered at a Mumbai theatre on Monday evening despite calls for a ban from Christian groups, the Maharashtra government said, although authorities filmed the performance to check for offensive content.

Catholic organisations objected to t he use of t he phrase “immaculate conception” in the advertisements for Agnes of God, an adaptation of American playwright John Pielmeier’s drama of the same name.

“We have received complaints from nuns because the use of the words belittles them,” said Judith Monteiro, secretary of the Association of Concerned Catholics. She said the Catholic groups intended to meet the chief minister on the issue.

Maharashtra’s minority affairs minister Eknath Khadse spoke about the decision to film the play, being staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, during a meeting with community groups and Kaizaad Kotwal, the play’s director, at his residence on Monday morning.

The play has already received certification from the Censor Board and community groups can approach court or the censors if they think it offends religious sensibilities, Khadse said.

The state government has no role to play in the matter because the Censor Board, an autonomous body, has given approval to the director, he said. “So both parties should go to court and make their claims,” he said.

“Agnes Of God”, about a young nun who gives birth and claims the baby was the result of a virgin conception, has often attracted the ire of the church. Catholic groups have criticised both the play and the 1985 Hollywood film based on it.

Kotwal, his lawyer Sujay Kantawala and actor Dolly Thakore represented the other side at the meeting with Khadse.