Women cheaper than liquor in Goa, claims B'wood film

PANAJI: "Over here (in Goa)....liquor is cheap, and the women are cheaper," are lines that actress Bipasha Basu delivers in the trailor of the Bollywood movie Dum Maaro Dum.

Bollywood's portrayal of Goans in bad light continues, but this time it looks like the Goans will not take things lying down.

"If Goa is a small state with a big heart that does not mean Goa is going to be kicked around. The film maker can choose any other place and use any other people as characters for his cheap thrills to fill his pockets. The Shiv Sena will just not allow and tolerate using Goa and its people as an advertisement for the sex trade and drugs," says Philip D'Souza of the Shiv Sena.

"Goa has already been sold. Half of the land in Goa, including communidade land has been sold to outsiders including those in the Bollywood film industry. Now, stop selling the daughters of Goa. We're going to protect the daughters of Goa, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and political affiliation," he said.

The Shiv Sena has demanded that the chief minister and home minister take note of the issue and make it mandatory for film makers to submit their scripts before a committee, before being allowed to shoot in Goa or make a movie on Goa and its culture. "It is time now that the state government preserves the dignity of Goans, keeping in mind the sentiments of the Goan people in order to avoid a law and order situation," D'Souza said.

Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad questioned whether the state government is a silent abettor to the portrayal of Goan women. "The dignity of the Goan woman has been stripped. It is even shocking that Bipasha as a woman stoops so low. The very fact that she chooses to call the women of Goa cheap is despicable," Martins said. "Prostitution is happening everywhere including in places like Mumbai and Delhi, but why do they choose to demean the character of a Goan woman. Is it because they think Goa is a soft target?" she added.

Pramod Salgaocar, former chairperson of the Goa State Women's Commission said that the movie trailor is being used to market and sell the movie, exploitating the character of the Goan woman for its purpose. "Bollywood has always portayed Goans as drunkards and the women as loose characters. Goa is also being regularly targetted by the media," she said.

Victoria Fernandes, the lone woman MLA in the legislative assembly said that she will take up the matter with the cabinet of ministers. "I totally condemn this portrayal and will take up the matter with the chief minister and cabinet ministers. "Who is tolerating this, and why are they tolerating this?" she said.