Panel formed to give opinion on 'DMD' not to watch film

Panaji, April 20: The committee, set up by the state government to give an opinion on whether Rohan Sippy's ''Dum Maro Dum'' portrays Goa in bad light, has decided not to watch the film following a High Court judgement giving a go ahead to the filmmaker.

"There is no need to see the movie now. Even the Chairman of the committee is out on an official trip to Delhi," Menino Peres, Director, Information and Publicity department, told PTI.

The committee, headed by state information secretary Rajiv Verma and formed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, was supposed to give its opinion prior to the film's theatrical release.

While the High Court, on Monday, had dismissed a petition filed against the release of the movie based on its promos, the committee was supposed to have a special screening of the Abhishek Bachchan-Bipasha Basu starrer, which hits the silver-screen this Friday.

Media Professional, Savio Rodrigues, had moved the court pleading for a ban on the release of the film.

When contacted, Kamat said the state government will now examine the order of the High Court before deciding on anything.

"We will examine the order and only after that will take the steps," he said.

Fox Star Studios International Private Limited (FSSIPL), distributors of the film, earlier had said that they could not screen the movie before the committee as "the members were not in Goa."

FSSIPL's Dina Duttani had said that they will screen the film only when entire committee is together.

PTI