Liquor is cheaper here and women still more cheaper there is no value for life -- If these lines were to make it to the glossy brochures of any Department of Tourism of the Govt of Goa or for that matter of the Govt of India and circulated world wide obviously it would arouse sharp condemnation from civil society in general and women organisations in particular That is what happened when the National censor board cleared Bollywood producer Rohan Sippy's suspense thriller --- "DUM MAARO DUM " on 7th of this month with actors Abhishek Bacchaan, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu. For these lines scripted by Shridhar Raghavan portrayed a cheap image of women of Goa . There was condemnation from "Goencho Ostoreancho Avaz " a motely woman collective, and one founder - editor of Goan Chronicle -- Savio Rodrigues who pursued unsucessfully the matter in the High Court of Bombay - Panaji Bench objecting to its release. Notwithstanding widespread criticism in the local visual and print media there was a Special Preview of the film on 21st April, 2011. When this writer witnessed the preview (ticket Rs.200/- per person ) a two hour movie at its first show at 1900 hrs IST at " Inox " Panaji Goa there was nothing that one felt could earn such wide criticism . It was indeed the reality as it exist in the North Coastal belt of Goa. The settings of the film was at Vagator Arpora Baga Calangute the Goa Medical College Hospital at Bambolim, the capital city Panaji and its suburbs . The only prominent Goan personality was tiatrists Wilson and his wife Sharon Mazarelo ( at a dance party and beach scene ) The sign board of V P SInari and students of prominent red and white airline and travel training institute. Probably the posters displayed earlier and the lines scripted besides the internet version had aroused the condemnation then the movie per se. Obviously none of those that condemned the movie had indeed witnessed the movie. Atleast one could have expected them to take an opportunity to do so at the Special Preview as indeed much of what they opposed perhaps was re-visited by the Censor Board of India and deleted. The movie centres around an ACB Police Inspector who is hell bent on crushing the drug mafia viz Russian, Nigerian, Israelis etc and the local pushers operating in the North coastal belt of Goa Vagator Baga Calangute. But the suspense unfurls the strong police-drug mafia nexus which indeed allows the perpetuation of this Rs. 950 crore odd illicit trade. For ultimately it is the yet another Police Officer Rane who kills the over enthusiastic ACB Police Inspector. That youngsters impeded by non availability of finances ; one a lad desirous of pursuing higher studies abroad and a lass opting for a career in airlines fall easy prey to the drug peddlars / pushers is amply portrayed in the film. If it all there is some reason for criticism it ought to be so because the Goan Catholic community was shown in bad taste . Are notorious drug peddlars only Catholics ? Why then the names adopted as as Michael Braganza, Colin Coutinho, Lorsa Bisquita ? The other characters like Janet Isabel , Vincent Veigas San Fernando Souza Juvenile Home Lawry Eduardo Gomes . The prominent display of cross use of cemetry , normal ingredients of all Bollywood films was also evident. The love for football the use of words "sossegado" in Portuguese, some Konkani phrases interspersed in the dialogues , humming some Konkani .... noxib mhozo koslo ... etc reflected the drug trade scenario in the move . All these could have earned condemnation. The skimply clad women, those in shown in compromising positions in bed scenes , a paedophile being subjected to crude interrogation methods adopted by Police These are all befitting the scenario of the drug trade and cannot be done away with. The movie is now rated as "A" (adult) category and hence it should satisfy the puritans. Hence one needs to watch the movie just like they would do any other movie. That the drug scenario is indeed a reality in Goa following the rave parties and that the Scarlet murder was allegedly a drug related crime is reflected in the scene. There has been no criticism in the South Indian state of Karnataka as of now but following the screening of the film showing Gokarn (famous for its Om Beach ) in Karnataka there could be some trouble. In fact the Home Minister and his Ponda constituency besides the Calangute Police Station have a subtle reflection in the movie. The song " Dum maro dum " which forms the signature tune in this movie is from "Hare Krishna Hare Ram" sung by Zeenat Aman a movies which was a hit at the time of the Hippie advent in the early 70's. Over three decades now that the drug scenario still thrives in Goa is reason for concern . from the INOX end Panaji
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [email protected]
