Dam999 director to move court against ban by Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Bowing to pressure from political parties, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday banned the controversial film “Dam999” in the state. Dubai-based director of the movie Sohan Roy said he would move court against the government’s decision. The government’s announcement comes a day after theatre owners decided not to screen the movie.
The government said the film would create tension among the people and disturb peaceful relations with Kerala.In a statement, chief secretary Debendranath Sarangi said the film could cause differences between the two states and trigger law and order problems. He said the film’s story revolved around the collapse of a weak dam constructed by a corrupt mayor with scenes portraying death of lakhs of people.
“The title ‘Dam999’ seems to refer to the Mullaperiyar dam (for which Tamil Nadu holds lease rights for 999 years),” Sarangi said. Quoting reported remarks of the director, he said Roy had said the Tamil Nadu government would cooperate with Kerala in constructing a new dam after watching his film. “Though the dam has not been directly portrayed in the film, scenes shot in Alappuzha in Kerala remind one of the Mullaperiyar dam,” Sarangi said.
Speaking to TOI from Dubai, Roy expressed hope that once the film was released in other states, confusion among the people of Tamil Nadu would be resolved.
Asked about the DMK’s demand that the film should be banned across the country, Roy said, “In that case, I have no option but to move the Supreme Court. If the Tamil Nadu government continues with the ban, I will consult my legal experts and move the court for getting the film released.”
Roy said many Tamil technicians were involved in the movie project. “More than 90% of the graphics in the film was done by them. Even the images of the dam were created by noted art director Thotta Tharani. Do you think these people would have worked with me if the film was against the people of Tamil Nadu,” he asked.
Terming the ban as “extremely unfortunate”, Roy said, “Is there any logic in banning a movie without seeing it? The government has every right to ban it if, after seeing it, it felt the film could create major disturbances.”
Coming in the backdrop of the Mullaperiyar dam issue, the controversy over the film triggered violent protests in Chennai with several political parties, including DMK, PMK and MDMK, demanding a ban on its screening.