David Fincher Refuses to Cut 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' India Release Canceled

NEW DELHI – The much-awaited Daniel Craig starrer The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo won't be seeing an India release as the film's director David Fincher has refused to cut some scenes as specified by India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The scenes in question include two lovemaking scenes between the film's principal female lead Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) and Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) ; a lesbian scene featuring Lisbeth and a woman she meets at a bar; a scene where Lisbeth is raped and tortured. In a follow-up scene, she tortures her tormentor as a video of her being assaulted plays in the background.

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“Sony Pictures will not be releasing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in India. The Censor Board has adjudged the film unsuitable for public viewing in its unaltered form and, while we are committed to maintaining and protecting the vision of the director, we will, as always, respect the guidelines set by the Board,” said a statement released by Mumbai-based Sony Pictures India which had earlier announced that the film was to open here on Feb. 10.

According to media reports here Saturday, a CBFC official was quoted stating that “the protocol usually is to blur out the scenes that have frontal nudity.” But a spokesperson from Sony Pictures was also quoted stating that the scenes were specifically asked to be cut and not blurred.