O Maria shot at Chaudi health centre

O Maria shot at Chaudi health centre
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, SEPT 14
The entire unit of ‘O Maria’ film production was at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Chaudi on Tuesday, filming their scenes for the Rajendra Talak’s Konkani creation.
The shots were taken with the film’s lead actors in action either on the hospital beds, hospital’s emergency unit, OPD, health officer’s cabin or on first and second floor corridors.
Mumbai filmi world’s heroine Shernaz Patel and USA-based Cori as hero and Goa’s John D’Silva, besides other actors were involved in the scenes that were shot in CHC at Chaudi on Tuesday.
Interestingly, when the shots were taken, CHC Health Officer Dr V R Murlitharan was seen assisting in pointing flaws on various presentations, especially in a shooting, where the film hero badly assaulted, lies injured on hospital bed, while a police team records statement in the presence of heroine Shernaz Patel and John D’Silva.
The film party after completing 12-day shooting stint in Agonda, reached Chaudi at CHC for the one-day shoot.
According to one of the production unit member, almost all the main film scenes are captured, while the few remaining shots will be taken up at Panjim and elsewhere.
“The shooting should end by September 20,” informed the unit member. The unit member however, remained tight lipped when asked about the central theme of the film. Other sources revealed that the film story revolves around the preservation of Goan heritage and opposition to selling Goan homes to foreign nationals for monetary benefits.
When asked about his role in the film, comedian John D’Silva said: “No, not comedy, but I am doing a serious role, which is also a very minimal role. I’ll be seen only in 3-4 scenes in this film.”
CHC Health Officer Dr Murlitharan when questioned clarified that no visiting patients in OPDs or Casualty or any in-ward patients in the CHC wards were disturbed during the day
“The film party has secured all the necessary permissions from the concerned authorities to carry on the shooting,” he said.
However, a source from Agonda Panchayat in whose jurisdiction the Konkani film was shot for over 12 days, informed that the local body was ignored nor consulted by concerned government agency while granting the permission.
It is learnt that the film ‘O Maria’ production party has necessary permission from Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), but has neither applied nor obtained any permission from the local body, totally keeping the local body in darkness.
Panchayat sources said: “Being a Konkani and local film, we took it in our stride, but similar offences in future will not be allowed to be repeated in the village, as whatever happens in the village, the local people has every right to know and the concerned should obtain local body’s due permission.”