Goa govt objects to ‘Dum Maaro Dum’

The ?offensive? portrayal of Goa in the Hindi film ?Dum Maro Dum? has been objected by the Goa government with tourism Minister Nilkant Halankar considering taking up the issue with director Rohan Sippy.

Responding to a discussion during the zero hour on Wednesday, Halarnkar said that the government is anxious as the movie allegedly shows Goa in a negative taste.

?We are anxious the way Sippy?s movie has chronologically shown Goa full of drugs, sex and rape? I will try my best to contact the Entertainment Society of Goa and hold joint discussion with the movie director,? the minister said.

Halankar further said that various initiatives are being taken to build tourism in Goa that has emerged as the most favourite destination among domestic and foreign tourists.

The matter was raised by the former tourism minister and NCP legislator Francisco Pacheco demanding to ban the movie?s release.

?As it is various controversies including police-drug mafia nexus, foreigners? deaths, rapes and other similar cases have blemished Goa?s image. The movie will further dent Goa?s image,? Pacheco said on the floor of the House.

The Speaker however turned down Pacheco?s demand for the ban on DMD commenting that whatever shown in the movie is partially correct.

The former minister said that he would approach the Bombay High Court at Goa demanding to ban the movie?s release.

The movie, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu and others, is based on Goa?s dark underbelly.

The promos with bold big-sized letters, ?Drugs?, ?Cocaine?, ?Sex? and ?Ecstasy?, and the titled song showing rave party scenes and bikini-clad foreigners, have not been liked by many. The film is set to hit the theaters on April 22.

Speaking to reporters after the Assembly session, Pacheco demanded that Home Minister Ravi Naik should step down considering that the Speaker himself admitted that the movie is partially correct.

The tourism industry had expressed fears that the movie will impede Goa?s tourism and had urged the Government to ensure that the movie is not an exaggerated portrayal.

Goa police, in February had written to Sippy demanding to show them the promos before releasing in the theaters. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was quoted saying that he would ask the filmmaker to screen the movie to Goa police before its official release.