Goa tourism industry unsettled by Rohan Sippy`s `Dum Maro Dum`

Panaji: Goa tourism industry has voiced concern that filmmaker Rohan Sippy`s upcoming flick `Dum Maro Dum` may show the state in poor light, thereby affecting the industry, which is recovering from a lean period. "The censor board should cut off the objectionable parts, if the film portrays the state in bad light," Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Gaurish Dhond told reporters here.

He said that Goa cannot afford to have bad publicity as it will affect the tourist inflow, which is the major economic activity in the state. `Dum Maro Dum`, starring Abhishekh Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone and Rana Daggubati, reportedly deals with drugs, sex and sleaze in this beach heaven, which was recently rocked by the drug nexus scandals. Dhond, admitting that he is yet to see even a promo of the movie, said that a negative depiction of the state could harm the image of the state as a tourist destination. "Goa has been built as a tourist destination over the years. You cannot allow some film to condemn it overnight," he said. Tourism industry in the state has recently taken a hit with Sri Lanka and Malaysia emerging as popular alternatives. "Why is only Goa being projected in bad light? We are facing enough of competition from other destinations. Drug abuse, rapes are being highlighted in a big way which is spoiling the repute of the state," Dhond said. "British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling death case was hyped so much that people started feeling that our beaches are unsafe, which was not true at all," he said adding that filmmakers should portray the actual truth. `Dum Maro Dum`, which was extensively shot in Goa, has also received a word of caution from Goa Police. Police sources stated that they have asked Rohan Sippy to screen the promos for them before the film is released. "We don`t want that wrong things be shown about Goa in the film. Also, we are worried about the reputation of Goa police being shown in it," a senior police officer said. State tourism director Swapnil Naik said that since movies are considered as true depiction, there should be some control over it. "The film is about Goa so the state government should keep a check over it to ascertain that it does not exaggerate certain things," Naik said. The tourism director said the movie should not portray a false picture of Goa. When contacted Ramesh Sippy`s official spokesman said the film is based on whatever that has happened in Goa in the recent past. "There was a proper research conducted on Goa`s situation, before finalising the script," she said. The spokesperson has said that they are willing to show promos to Goa police. "Goa police can travel to Mumbai and if they can`t, we will come down to Goa and show them the promos," she said. PTI