Sohan Roy's Dam 999 releases on 25th November
The Hollywood film Dam 999 by Keralite director Sohan Roy is all set to hit the theatres on 25 November. It has already raised controversies and debates before its release. The film is made with a budget of 50 crores Rupees. Read more details in the article.
The Hollywood film Dam 999 by Keralite director Sohan Roy is ready to hit the theatres on 25 November. It has already raised controversies and debates before its release.
The 3D movie is produced by BizTV Network, UAE. The film is based on the award winning documentary DAMs - The Lethal Water Bombs by Sohan Roy himself. The movie is about the Banqiao dam disaster in 1975 in China that cost about 250,000 lives. It also tries to bring light to the issue regarding Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala. The film is merely an emotional thriller. The ancient Indian concept of Navarasas, the nine human emotions, are represented in the film through nine characters. The film also presents the nine concepts of Ayurveda, astronomy and love along with the main plot.Story and Cast
The film is centered on a century old dam erected by the British during their colonial regime in India. Also, there have 9 characters, due to various reasons, who are not fully able to express their emotions. A corrupt mayor, who builds a dam for political and personal gains, which endangers millions of innocent lives. A mariner who is trying to save his sister from evil. Two youthful lovers who are struggling to overcome the circumstances to unite. A woman trying to get her crumbled family back. A boy fighting for his life with a deadly disease. An loyal wife who treats her husband like God. An upset astrologer who has foreseen the terrible future. The characters draw back to themselves to the very extent. After so much pressure, eventually the dam breaks up, so do the characters. The film can be viewed in different angle. History, emotions, Ayurveda, Astronomy, Music and so on. All of them have been intertwined and related to the central theme. The film comes with an ensemble cast including Indian and English actors.
Ashish Vidyarthi plays Durai, the antagonist. His rasa is Bheebatsa, that represents disgust. Joshua Fredric Smith appears as Captain Fredrick Brown, representing Hasya, the rasa of fun. Rajit Kapur plays Shankaran, who represents Santam rasa, of tranquility. Vinay Rai portrays Vinay, a mariner and Freddy's trusted friend. He stands for Roudra rasa, the rasa of wrath. Linda Arsenio appears as Sandra, a TV journalist. She portrays Veera rasa, that of heroism. Vimala Raman plays Meera, representing Karuna rasa, or compassion. Megha Burman plays the role of Raziya, a Pakistani. She represents Shringara rasa, that of romance. Jaala Pickering appears as Maria, Freddy's sister. She symbolises Bhayanaka rasa, of fear and despair. Jineeth Rath, a child actor portrays the character of Sam, the symbol of Adbutha rasa, that of wonder. The cast also includes Harry Key, Antony Thekkek, Michael Pradeep, Gary Richardson and Alok Misra.Preview
The director Sohan Roy is a Marine engineer by profession. He took two years for reasearch and study to make the script. The Music is done by Ouseppachan while the Cinematographer is Ajayan Vincent and Editors are Suresh Pai & Johnson Iringole. Art Direction is by Thotta Tharani. The film has a budget of Rs. 50 crores. It is distributed by Warner Brothers worldwide. The 2D to 3D Conversion technology is used in the film. Prasad EFX and Raysan Magna are the labs behind animation. The film is highly relevent in Kerala and Tamil Nadu where the two states are at loggerheads over the Mullapperiyar dam.
Dam 999 is inspired by a range of real events. The movie pays tribute to the 2,50,000 people killed in the 1975 Banqiao Dam disaster in China. At the same time, it portrays the mental stress every person experiences by restricting own feelings and desires. Octopian boy, a toy is created in the movie.
A novel titled DAM999 will be published before the film release. It is written by Sohan Roy with Naufal Ashraf. Dam 999 is the first movie with a 3D website. It will have a 3D version of the official trailer and more. As a way of promotion, 9 flavours of ice cream will be marketed themed with the Navarasa. There will be T-shirts depicting Navarasa. Online games on the film are started.
The library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected the screenplay of Dam 999 into its Permanent Core Collection, for research. It is the first Indian film to be selected before its theatrical release.Controversies
The film has been running through controversies since the beginning. Veteran Malayalam actor Thilakan, who had been cast in the film, was dropped due to the threat of AMMA and FEFKA. Thilakan was paid Rs. 7 lakhs as compensation and replaced by Rajat Kapoor. Later, another lead character of the film left in the midway, after the disputes with the crew, leaving it in trouble. Now, the Tamil Nadu political parties are on protest against the film since it backs Kerala apparently in the Mullapperiyar row. The theatres in Tamil Nadu won't screen the film.
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