Post release, DMD protests die down in Goa

The protests against `Dum Maaro Dum` in Goa seems to have calmed down after its release as several locals who saw the film came out of theatres looking happy.

Panaji: The protests against Rohan Sippy`s `Dum Maaro Dum` in Goa seems to have calmed down after its release as several locals who saw the film came out of theatres looking happy.

The movie, which hit the screens yesterday, garnered more than 50 per cent collection at the box office on its release day in the state. Women organisations including Austuryancho Awaz, which had stepped up protests against the movie last week, have now toned it down after the positive response from viewers. Protestors initially had resorted to sit-in near a multiplex here hours before the theatrical release but decided to do away with it after receiving good feedback. Except for a handful of them, singing songs and displaying placards, no protestors were visible. Panaji police had stationed its contingent outside the multiplex expecting trouble on Friday. Movie buffs, who caught the first show, said the storyline was no way derogatory of Goa although promos hinted at portraying the state as a drug and sex destination. "The movie was entertaining. It is based on facts. I do admit that there is Bollywood masala in it," said journalist Pramod Acharya, who was the first among to watch the movie. The audience, who are used to their regular dose of news about policemen-drug mafia nexus in the state, found the plot close to happenings in the state. Seven policemen were held here last year for their alleged nexus with drug peddler. "Actually, the plot should have had included politicians too. How can they miss this reality," Aaron Sequeira, a youngster, asked. "We loved to see our Konkani bad words being used in the movie," Sharon Dias, another youngster, commented. The movie starring Abhishekh Bachchan and Bipasha Basu in the lead roles shows Assistant Commissioner Vishnu Kamath (Bachchan) cracking down on the drug menace in the state. DMD begins with special thanks to Goa Government, Goa Police, Corporation of City of Panaji and Entertainment Society of Goa. A sentence in the movie `here liquor is cheap and women are cheaper,` which had created an uproar before its release, has been replaced in the movie. Bipasha, who plays the role of an airhostess, has a dialogue which now says `Here liquor is cheap and relationships are cheaper.` The filmmaker replaced the sentence after a PIL in the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court alleging that the movie shows Goa and its people in bad light. PTI