‘I can’t come to Tamil Nadu again’

Director Sohan Roy has filed a case against the ban on his film Dam999 in the state
While his award-winning film based on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue between Tamil Nadu and Kerala was appreciated by viewers and critics alike, filmmaker Sohan Roy is now facing a roadblock for Dam999.
After receiving a certificate from the Censor Board, the state government of Tamil Nadu has banned the film in the state on grounds of possible creation of disharmony between the people of Kerala and TN, given the tussle between them regarding the rebuilding of the Mullaperiyar Dam.
“The question is, how can a movie be banned in a particular state after the Censor Board has approved it? Our advocate has already filed a case with the Supreme Court,” says Roy, who is appalled that the state government has banned his film without even watching it. Although Sohan claims that the film has nothing to do with this particular dam, the inclusion of the number 999 is akin to the 999-year contract for that dam.
Roy clarifies, “It’s clearly mentioned in the movie that the inauguration date of the new dam is September 9, 2009 in the film, and thus the number is used in the title.” Did the filmmaker try to reach out to the TN government or the people in any way? He says, “I was in the state for a press conference, and I had a narrow escape from there (reportedly, the venue where the Dam999 conference was to take place was vandalised just before media interaction started). I can never go to Tamil Nadu now. If I go there, I won’t come back in one piece.”
Sohan adds, “If you’re looking at the film with the Mullaperiyar angle, then the movie will seem to be revolving around the issue. That, I would say, is the success of the script. I have also highlighted Ayurveda and Indian music in this film. The very purpose of the movie is to convey the message about the Mullaperiyar issue, and it is conveyed. And at the same time, I haven’t said anything directly. Had I said it directly, it would become a story only for Kerala and Tamil Nadu. But the film has gone to 200 countries and there are some 4000 dam issues in the world. Later, if due to my film, this political issue gets resolved, I’ll be very happy.”