New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The first, Church-produced, Bollywood-styled movie is scheduled to be released today across India.

The Hindi-language movie titled Aisa Kyon Hota Hai (Why does this happen?) is produced by the archdiocese of Delhi for the purpose of raising awareness about AIDS and communal violence.

Fr Dominic Emmanuel, who heads the archdiocese' department of communication and information, started the project more than a year ago with the assistance of several catholic voluntary organizations and Church groups.

For many within the Church, the movie represents a big leap in the Indian Church's approach to communications as it uses a popular medium and formula that common people understand.

The movie, which shows five song-and-dance numbers, will be released in theatres all over India. Bollywood heroine Rati Agnihotri, who made her debut in 1981 with the hit film Ek Duje Ke Liye (For Each Other), plays the role of a single mother who raises her son.

The movie highlights the need for fidelity in marriage as a way to fight AIDS.

According to official figures, there are five million HIV-positive people in the country.

The movie also raises awareness about the need for religious harmony in a country which has experienced Hindu-Muslim clashes and where attacks on churches and Christians have been on the rise in recent years.