Now Vishwaroopam ignites DAM 999 controversy in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Feb 7: Leaving all controversies behind, Vishwaroopam has finally been released in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, Feb 7. It has become one of the most memorable victories for director-actor Kamal Haasan. However, release of his movie in the state has ignited another controversy regarding another movie - DAM 999.

Director of DAM 999, Sohan Roy seems to be upset with the state government which is yet to lift the ban on his movie allowing its release in Tamil Nadu.

A daily quoted Roy as saying, "I am happy for Kamal. But why am I sidelined? Why my movie DAM999 which is struggling for the last 2 years to get released is still being ignored by the same government?"

"I respect Kamal Hassan. But don't you think I am also a human being, and I too deserve justice? I have lost so much money in all this," Roy added. DAM 999 was released in 2011 and the movie maker claimed it was a tribute to to 250,000 innocent people who lost their lives during 1975 Banqiao Dam disaster in China.

Fearing unrest in the state, Tamil Nadu government had banned DAM 999. According to the government, the movie may ignite political war over the century old Mullaperiyar Dam situated in Kerala.

The two neighbouring states have been battling over the dam. While the latter demand to re-construct the dam citing safety, which is at stake due to age old dams, the former overruled such demands. Tamil Nadu maintains its stand saying that re-construction of dam would affect water supply in the state which also ruled out speculations over safety issue.

While Tamil Nadu contends that the dam is safe and its water level has to be raised from 132 ft to 136 ft, Kerala says the structure is weak and it has to be replaced with a new dam.

Vishwaroopam had faced immense opposition when a group of Muslim community had protested against the release of the movie and Tamil Nadu government posed a ban on it. However, with the intervention of Madras High Court and mutual understanding between the protesting group and the film makers.

OneIndia News