Despite the hype created due to protests by some Christian organisations the controversial film 'Sins', today opened here to a lukewarm response.

In a suburban multiplex the matinee show of the film saw the cinema hall half empty. A police van was stationed outside the multiplex and cops allowed people to enter the auditorium only after through checks.

Bombay High Court had yesterday refused to stay the release of the Vinod Pande-directed English movie, while dismissing a petition filed by Catholic Secular forum.

The petitioners sought the ban on the release of the film saying it portrays a priest in poor light.

The film is about a complex relationship, between a priest and a young girl.

The maker of films like ''Ek Baar Phir'' and ''Yeh Nazdeekiyan'', Mr Pande said, ''There is no filmmaker whose cherished dream is not to bring his work on silver screen for the public viewing. Last ten days have been full of deep anxiety and uncertainty for me because this very purpose seemed to be in jeopardy with regard to my film Sins.'' Various Christian organisations had held demonstrations in different parts of the megapolis protesting the release of the movie.

''Sins, is a story on the theme of Crimes of Passion and forbidden love,'' noted Mr Pande.

''Although it is inspired from what really happened in real life, it was never my intention to denigrate or vilify any particular person of a community or institution.'' clarified Mr Pande.

''Sins, is certainly not one of the greatest films you will have seen, but is is most certainly made with sincerity, honesty and integrity. It is by design made in English, as the treatment I had set out to give to my film would have appealed only to a certain section of people'', he said.

The two-hour-long songless movie stars Shiney Ahuja, Seema Rahmani, Uttara Baokar, Nitish Pandey and Rishi Khurana among others.