New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS): "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", the big screen adaptation of John le Carre's iconic 1974 spy novel of the same name, will release in India Dec 30.

Directed by Tomas Alfredson of "Let the Right One In" fame, the movie is set in London in the early 1970s. Featuring actors like Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt and Tom Hardy, the narrative follows the hunt for a Soviet double agent at the top of a British secret service.

"When I first met John le Carre, he was very clear about his wishes regarding the film version of his novel 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - 'Please don't shoot the book or remake the TV mini-series. They already exist. I'm not going to interfere, but you can call me any time if there is anything you wonder about,' he had said," recalls Alfredson.

The director says he feels he has managed to follow the instructions well.

"I think we have obeyed him to the letter. Of course, you cannot encompass every detail in a book of 349 pages at the movies. But you can take themes and strands and moments, and try to describe what you see. With 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', I think we've made a film about loyalty and ideals, values that are extremely relevant - perhaps mostly because they are so rare these days," he added.