Highlights
- The Tamil Nadu government has banned Dam999 in the state. Dam999 is a Hollywood film depicting the dangers posed by the collapse of an old dam.
- Earlier, theatres in Tamil Nadu decided to not show the film by Kerala-based director Sohan Roy, which many in the state claim is based on the controversy surrounding the Mullaperiyar Dam.
- The film's producers claim it just tells the story of the havoc that old and outdated dams could cause.
- Many inTamil Nadu claim the film is actually a clever plot to deny Tamil Nadu its rightful share of water by projecting Kerala's Mullaperiyar Dam as a potential for disaster.
- The Tamil Nadu Theatres Association says the film may create tension in the state. "This could lead to lot of confusion and violations in Tamil Nadu. We don't want that to happen. We respect local sentiment,” said Sridhar, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association.
- Although the Mullaperiyar Dam is in Kerala, Tamil Nadu has rights over its waters for 999 years. The British had signed an agreement to irrigate the drought prone southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
- Five years ago the Supreme Court directed Kerala to raise the dam's storage to help the neighbouring state, but Kerala defied the order saying the dam is weak.
- The film's director denies allegations that the film is about this controversial dam.
- "Nobody has seen the movie from their side so far, so my request is that people should watch the movie first and then create some problem," says Roy.
- With political parties in the state pitching for a ban on Dam999 it once again looks like a battle between creative freedom and those who take the law into their own hands.
The Tamil Nadu government has banned
Dam999 in the state.
Dam999 is a Hollywood film depicting the dangers posed by the collapse of an old dam.
Earlier, theatres in Tamil Nadu decided to not show the film by Kerala-based director Sohan Roy, which many in the state claim is based on the controversy surrounding the Mullaperiyar Dam.
The film's producers claim it just tells the story of the havoc that old and outdated dams could cause.
Many in Tamil Nadu claim the film is actually a clever plot to deny Tamil Nadu its rightful share of water by projecting Kerala's Mullaperiyar Dam as a potential for disaster.
The Tamil Nadu Theatres Association says the film may create tension in the state. "This could lead to lot of confusion and violations in Tamil Nadu. We don't want that to happen. We respect local sentiment," said Sridhar, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association.
Although the Mullaperiyar Dam is in Kerala, Tamil Nadu has rights over its waters for 999 years. The British had signed an agreement to irrigate the drought prone southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Five years ago the Supreme Court directed Kerala to raise the dam's storage to help the neighbouring state, but Kerala defied the order saying the dam is weak.
The film's director denies allegations that the film is about this controversial dam.
"Nobody has seen the movie from their side so far, so my request is that people should watch the movie first and then create some problem," says Roy.
The film was due to release on Friday (November 25).
With political parties in the state pitching for a ban on
Dam999 it once again looks like a battle between creative freedom and those who take the law into their own hands.