Court issues notice to director of `Dum Maaro Dum`

The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court Thursday issued notices to the director and producers of Bollywood film `Dum Maaro Dum` and other officials, over a petition seeking a ban on the film scheduled to be released April 22. "The movie is against public order, decency and morality and there is clear violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India to the people of Goa," said a petitioner.

Panaji: The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court Thursday issued notices to the director and producers of Bollywood film `Dum Maaro Dum` and other officials, over a petition seeking a ban on the film scheduled to be released April 22.

"The movie is against public order, decency and morality and there is clear violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India to the people of Goa," petitioner Savio Rodrigues said in his plea. Justice SC Dharmadhikari and Justice F.M. Reis issued notices returnable by April 13, to film director Rohan Sippy, Ramesh Sippy Entertainment and Fox Star studios (both producers), Goa`s chief secretary and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson. Rodrigues has sought the ban alleging that the film featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone portrayed Goa and its women in bad light. He said the film would have an adverse impact on the state`s tourism industry. "The film is scheduled to be released on April 22 and as per the publicity given to the film by the producers in the media, the film will attract criminal minded tourists and offenders and drive away decent travellers and tourists from Goa," the petition said. Goa Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar has said that he would be taking up the issue of Goa`s bad portrayal in the film, with its director. "We are worried that Goa may be projected badly in the film. The industry and the government have worked very hard to build the reputation of Goa to what it is today. We will intervene. The chief minister and I will take up the issue with Sippy," Halarnkar said. IANS