India: film about Jesus in Hindi released

Scene from Christayan

A six hour long film on the life of Jesus, in the Hindi language, has been released in India this week for the Year of Faith. Titled 'Christayan' ('The Way of Christ'), the film is the work of Fr Geo George SVD, an Indian missionary who used 200 non-professional actors, about 80% non-Christians, and seven years of work to produce the film.

Playing the role of Jesus, is the young Hindu actor Ankit Sharma. Fr Dominic D'Abreo, spokesman of the Indian Bishops Conference, said the film is an example of "inculturation" as it portrays Jesus using Indian customs, culture and Indian music and presents a Christ who restores dignity to women, the poor, the oppressed, the creation, touching issues that are very eloquent for the Indian public.

Fr D'Abreo said the initiative "is commendable, because in the Year of Faith it will help to discover faith in Christ in our community, but also to remove existing prejudices about Jesus and the Church. " In addition, "for non-Christians it will be, thanks to the Hindi language, a tool to teach them about our faith, also to illuminate them on the knowledge of Christ."

The Year of Faith is being marked across India with special programs of catechesis, symposia, exhibitions, seminars, biblical meetings, events dedicated to the faith of young people.

Source: Fides