Ban on Dam 999 by TN challenge to creativity: Director

Tuesday, December 06, 2011: The ban on the Hollywood film Dam 999 in Tamil Nadu is a “challenge” to creative persons, its director Sohan Roy said.
Roy, who visited the Mullaperiyar dam site and the centre of agitation by politicians in nearby Chappath, said “such actions like the ban should not be allowed in a democracy”.
While appealing politicians and those from the film fraternity to come out against the ban, the movie director said he was pleased by the acceptance of the movie in Kerala.
Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani held a daylong fast at Chappath in the district today in support of Kerala’s demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar in place of the existing 116-year-old reservoir.
Roy, who has moved the Supreme Court against the ban, said he would pursue the case in the interest of creative freedom.
The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu had banned the movie on November 24 on the grounds that it can disturb cordial ties with Kerala and create law and order problem.
Chief Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government, Debendranath Sarangi had said that the title Dam 999 seemed to refer to the Mullaperiyar Dam (in which Tamil Nadu holds lease rights for 999 years).