Will Scarlette film show real Goa?

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Will Scarlette film show real Goa?
Bharti Dubey & Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Given Bollywood’s penchant of depicting Goa and Goans in a distorted manner, Bollywood director Prabhakar Shukla’s idea of a film, Rave Party, based on British teenager Scarlette Keeling, has stirred a hornet’s nest. Scarlette, one may recall was allegedly drugged, raped and murdered on a beach in Goa under mysterious circumstances in February this year. Shukla is looking cast Bollywood star Katrina Kaif in the lead role.
The question on everyone’s lips is — will the film be a true depiction of Goa? Tiatrist Prince Jacob is wary. Speaking to TOI he said, “Don’t label the film as a Christian girl’s story. If the filmmaker tries to project a false stereotype image of Goans, we should oppose the making of such film. The state government shouldn’t allow any unrealistic movie which depicts Goa as land of sex, drugs and sin to be shot here.”
Shukla assures that he will project the characters in the right manner. He said, “I respect all cultures and will keep in mind the culture of Goa while making the film and not give anyone a reason to object. Every community has good and bad elements which may be seen in the film. Besides, the case is still under investigation and before I start the film I will definitely speak to the government authorities to get their official version which I will incorporate in the film. I am leaving for the United Kingdom next week to get a clearance from Scarlette’s mother Fiona.”
Hindi film industry’s depiction of Goa and Goans, though colourful, has often been distorted. Be it a drunk Anthony Gonsalves, a sexy fisherwoman Bobby or the drug mafia-based film Jalwa, Bollywood has allegdly always portrayed a flawed image of the state. Films don’t tell complete truth: Talak
Panaji: Bollywood director Prabhakar Shukla is planning a film on Scarlette Keeling, who was raped and murdered on a Goa beach recently. Goans don’t mind a filmmaker showing the truth through the medium of cinema. “Movies are a reflection of society. I may not like what is being presented as it gives a notorious reputation to Goa and Goans. But the incident happened in the state and the filmmaker has creative freedom,” said Dr Pramod Salgaonkar, chairperson of Goa State Commission for Women.
Scarlette’s life and death in Goa is a perfect plot for a Bollywood masala movie — drugs, sex, crime. “So far, Bollywood has never projected the true Goa. As long as a filmmaker sticks to facts, it’s welcome. But it wouldn’t be fair to judge Goa or its culture on one incident,” said Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo.
By Shukla’s own admission, the incident has inspired him to expose the seedier side of Goa, which has now become a haven for drug dealers and addicts. Shukla had said, “The film is against drug abuse and the exploitation of tourists. Not just in India, but the world over, real-life cinema is attracting curiosity.”
However, Konkani filmmaker Rajendra Talak doesn’t buy this argument. “Films may be a partial reflection of society but it doesn’t tell the complete truth. Today films are made for time-pass and hardly have any impact on society or people,” said Talak.
Shukla had earlier made the film Kahani Gudiya Ki based on the truelife story of Gudiya, a 26-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh who chose to remain with her second husband Taufeeq even after her first husband, a solider Mohammad Aarif, returned in 2004. Traumatised, she finally died in 2006 in an army hospital.

2008 May 14 Times Of India Goa