Panaji: The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) is upset with films that seek to portray the tourist hotspot as a ‘drug or prostitution’ destination and is working on guidelines for movie makers to curb attempts to malign the image of the state, officials said Friday.
The trigger for the move was the just released Hindi film Malang which was slammed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for projecting Goa in a poor light.
The ESG, a state-affiliated body, has decided to come out with a set of measures, including getting an undertaking from filmmakers that they will not defame Goa, an international tourist destination, and vetting scripts.
Subhash Faldesai, vice-chairman of ESG, said a ‘serious thought has been given by the body to often maligning of the state through movies’. Sawant, who is also ESG chairman, last week had taken strong objection to certain scenes in Malang, claiming they ‘malign the image of the state’.
The Mohit Suri-directed romantic thriller was shot in Goa and hit threatres February 7. The film, featuring Aditya Roy Kapur and Disha Patani in the lead, has scenes of drug and rave parties in Goa.
The ESG is the nodal agency which regulates film shootings in the state. “If there is any scene which directly or indirectly maligns Goa, then the ESG will not allow it. Wrong perception should not be created about Goa by labelling it as a drug, liquor or prostitution destination,” Faldesai said.
The ESG is contemplating getting an undertaking from movie producers that they will not portray the state in negative light and then only allowing them to shoot, he said. “We believe in protecting creative freedom of filmmakers, but not at the cost of Goa’ image,” asserted Faldesai.
ESG chief executive officer (CEO) Amit Satija said the body is in the process of working out modalities on how to stop distortion of Goa’s image on celluloid. “We are also consulting out legal team before framing guidelines for movie makers,” Satija informed.
PTI
