Dum Maaro Dum to show Goa in poor light

Panaji (PTI): Goa tourism industry has voiced concern that filmmaker Rohan Sippy's upcoming flick Dum Maaro 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 PTI 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 Maaro Dum, starring Abhishek 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.