Damn 999 based on Disputed Mullaperiyar Dam raised Issues between TN & Kerala

Tamil Nadu government on 24 November 2011 banned the screening of Hollywood film Dam 999 with immediate effect. The movie directed by Sohan Roy is believed to be based on disputed Mullaperiyar Dam between Tamilnadu and Kerala. Tamilnadu Film Exhibitors' Association general secretary R Panneerselvam mentioned that the ban was imposed following the demand for it by parties including DMK, MDMK and PMK.

Tamil Nadu government imposed a ban citing that it may cause animosity between Kerala and TN people as the film was dealing with the subject of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam on the Kerala-TN border. Director Sohan Roy however mentioned that the ban was illegal as there is a Supreme Court ruling against banning of a film after it had been certified by Censor Board.

The film centres on a dam and how it collapses and ravages the surrounding areas. The English film, released by Warner Bros was scheduled for release on 25 November. It has been dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.

The Dispute

The Mullaperiyar dam was constructed in 1895 and a lease agreement for 999 years signed between the Dewan of Travancore and the state secretary of Madras Presidency. Travancore is currently a part of Kerala and Madras Presidency has metamorphosed into Tamil Nadu.

The dam is in Iddukki district of Kerala but is operated by the Tamil Nadu government by way of a lease agreement. While the government of Tamil Nadu wants to increase the storage level of the dam, the Kerala government opposes it citing safety concern.

Kerala wants a new dam built to replace the 116-year old dam but Tamil Nadu is not open to the idea and terms concerns about the safety of the dam as unfounded. The Mullaperiyar dam is important for Tamil Nadu as it meets the irrigation needs of farmers in southern districts.