Dam 999

Dam 999
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Sohan Roy
Produced by	BizTV Network
Written by	Rob Tobin Sohan Roy
Starring	Ashish Vidyarthi Joshua Fredric Smith Rajit Kapur Vinay Rai Vimala Raman Linda Arsenio Megha Burman Jaala Pickering Jineeth Rath
Music by	Ouseppachan
Cinematography	Ajayan Vincent
Editing by	Suresh Pai
Studio	BizTV Network
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	November 25, 2011 (2011-11-25)
Country	India United Arab Emirates
Language	English

Dam 999 is an upcoming english 3-D UAE-Indian co-production film produced by BizTV Network, UAE^[1] and directed by Sohan Roy. The movie is based on the award winning short documentary DAMs - The Lethal Water Bombs.^[2] and the Banqiao dam disaster of 1975 that claimed the lives of 250,000 people in China and anticipated calamity for Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala.^[3] The film falls in the category of an emotional thriller. The ancient Indian concept of Navarasas, or the nine human emotions, are represented by an assortment of actors from India and Hollywood. The movie also portrays the concepts of Ayurveda as well as lost love against the backdrop of the story of a dilapidated colonial dam.^[4][5]

Plot

The story revolves around the central edifice in this movie, a 100-year-old dam built by the British during their colonial days in India. Like a dam, each character in this movie holds back their emotions for various reasons. Eventually the dam breaks along with that of its characters, drawing the audience to a gripping climax. The number 999 has great importance in British Colonial Indian history. The story reveals the concealed truth of India's age-old myths and science. This Plot is enhanced true to life due to 2D to 3D conversion.The 3D technology and support was given by Rays Magna 3D.

Cast

• Ashish Vidyarthi - He plays Durai, the antagonist in the movie. Bheebatsa is the rasa of the foe, the rasa that symbolizes disgust and aversion.
• Joshua Fredric Smith - He plays Captain Fredrick Brown, a tongue-in-cheek Anglo-Indian mariner, an epitome of Hasya, the rasa of mirth and fun.
• Rajit Kapur - dons the role of Shankaran.
• Vinay Rai - Vinay Rai take the part of Vinay in the movie, a mariner and Freddy's trusted friend. Vinay is aggressive, fierce and ferocious and stands for Roudra rasa, the rasa of wrath.^[6][7]
• Linda Arsenio - The audacious and heroic mood of Veera rasa is portrayed by the character Sandra, a clued-in TV journalist.
• Vimala Raman - plays Meera, an archetype of the rasa of compassion, Karuna.
• Megha Burman - portrays Shringara Rasa that stands for Romance in the Movie. She plays the character of Raziya, a Pakistani in DAM999.
• Jaala Pickering - Jaala is Maria in Dam999, Freddy's invalid sister who is confined to her home. A picture of Bhayanaka rasa, Maria characterizes fear, doom and despair.
• Jineeth Rath - The child actor who plays the character of Sam in Dam999, portraying Abdutha Rasa.

Other Cast

• Harry Key : as Mark
• Antony Thekkek : as The architect
• Michael Pradeep : as Engineer 2
• Gary Richardson : as John Brown
• Alok Misra : as Ship Inspecter

Crew^[8]

Produced By

• Abhini Sohan : Producer
• Prabhiraj Nataraj : Co-Producer
• Jithesh KS : Line Producer
• Vinod Unnithan : Line Producer

Original Music By: Ouseppachan

Cinematography By: Ajayan Vincent

Film Editing By : Suresh Pai & Johnson Iringole

Casting By : Uzma Xina Kang, Zaheer Ali, Dalu, Vinod Unnithan

Art Direction By : Thotta Tharani

Costume Design By : Satheesh S.B.(aka S.B. Satheesan) & Abhini Sohan

Sound Designer : Shajith Koyeri

Production Sound Mixer: Amala Popuri

Makeup Artist : Pattanam Rashid

Choreographer : Prasanna Kumar

Chief Operating Officer : Shyam Kurup

Project Manager : Sumesh Ramankutty

Project Consultant : Eric Sherman

Researcher : Lakshmi Atul

Script Supervisors : Naufal Ashraf & Abhilash P.V

Promotions and Marketing Manager : Varun R Prasad

Project Coordinator : Reshma Nobert

Public Relations Officers : Ambika T.M, Venu Nanoo & Ummer Bava

Web - Promotions and Marketing : Nisha Joseph & Deepak Daniel

Head of Accounts : Sarath Radhakrishnan

Finance Controllers : Praveen Raj & Sajeesh Menon

Production Accountants : Joseph Malcom D'silva, Shine Thomas

Production Consultant : Biju Majeed

Script Co-ordinators : Abhay Vats, Varun R Prasad & Reshma Nobert

Title Graphics: Fijo Paul

Associate Music Composer : Shijin Melvin Hutton

2D to 3D Conversion : Rays Magna 3D Mumbai/Cochin

Production

Development

Dam999 is the result of inspiration of many real-life incidents. The movie is a tribute to the 250,000 people who lost their lives in the 1975 Banqiao Dam disaster in China.^[9]As per producer-director Sohan. “The central character of the story is this dam and the life of a few mariners living near it. There are nine characters in the movie, representing the Navarasas. I believe that every individual is born with a sthayi bhava, but when his suppressed feelings burst, like a dam, it changes,” ^[10]

Sohan Roy introduces a new toy, 'Octopian Boy', a solid action figure, through this movie.^[11]

Casting

The cast includes several acclaimed Indian actors such as Ashish Vidyarthi, Joshua Fredric Smith, Rajit Kapur, Vinay Rai, Vimala Raman, Linda Arsenio, Megha Burman, Jaala Pickering and Jineeth Rath. Veteran Malayalam actor Thilakan was originally cast to do an important role in the film.^[12] He was replaced later, following a notice from Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) stating that if Thilakan acted in the film, the association would boycott it. Sohan said they were forced to seek for a substitute for Thilakan when it came to a point that shooting might be disrupted.^[13] Eventually, Rajit Kapur was cast instead of Thilakan.^[14] There were reports that Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) also had intervened in Thilakan's replacement.^[14] In a related development, Thilakan and his supporters had a march towards the shooting location of the film at Alappuzha.^[15]

Filming

Dam999 started its shooting at Alleppey, Kerala.^[16] A lot of unexpected hurdles was faced by the crew with the progression of the movie. Veteran malayalam actor Thilakan, who was supposed to be a part of Dam 999, was made to drop out of the project due to his battle with AMMA. However the problem was solved by replacing Thilakan with Bollywood Actor Rajat Kapoor. Thilakan was paid seven lakhs as compensation.^[17][18][19] While the prior issue sublimed, another lead character from India walked out due to disputes with the crew, while the shoot was in progress, making the movie come to a halt.^[20] The star cast of the movie was immediately altered and the initial sequences in Kerala was completed as planned.^[21][22] From various exotic locations such as Ooty in India, the shoot of the movie progressed to Fujairah, Dubai, where Dam 999 has captured a couple of its sequences on the longest oil tanker vessel that has ever been filmed. The climax of the movie was compiled in an expensive set in Ramoji film city in Hyderabad, built by the Art Director Padmashree Thotta Tharani.^[23][24][25] Dam 999 is now in the post-production phase; the worldwide release of the movie is expected in the near future.^[26] Filming was in Fujairah. While in the stage of post production the movie grabbed the attention of the world owing to its story and title. Debates around the world regarding the ever existing fear of outdated dams have started to spring up.^[27] Award winning film maker James Cameron intends to make a movie based on dams which is expected after DAM999.^[28] Director Sohan Roy has assured the visual effects of DAM999 would be astonishing as it is done by Prasad EFX, one of the most reputed visual effects company in India.^[29] DAM999 is to use the latest technology of 2D to 3-D conversion in order to retain the naturality of an actual disaster, this state-of-the-art and true to life conversion was done at Rays Magna 3D, having studios at Mumbai and Cochin.^[30] As the technicalities of the movie are pretty complex, the release date has been postponed to late 2011.^[31]

Distribution

Warner Bros. will release DAM999 in India in both 2D and 3D on 25th of November 2011 ^[32]. The title would also have a worldwide release in prominent countries simultaneously.

Website

The film's official website was the World's first fully interactive 3D website for a movie.^[33]

Novel

DAM999 – The Novel will be published by Indra Publishing House and will be available in the market before the release of the movie. This is penned by director Sohan Roy^[34]& co-written by Naufal Ashraf and soon will be offered to the readers by the publisher.Indra Publishing House (IPH) is a publication house which provides a path to the fresh talent as well as existing authors. They have a wide distribution network across the nation and it covers all major cities of India.^[35]

Representation in events

BizTV network, the production house of Dam 999, represented the title in numerous film festivals and film markets such as Marche Du Film 2011,^[36] Hong Kong Filmart 2011, European Film Market 2011,^[37] American Film Market 2010^[38] and Dubai International Film Festival 2010.^[39]

Achievements

The library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has added the screenplay of Dam 999 as part of its Permanent Core Collection, which is accessible to students, film makers, writers, actors and others from the field of cinema for the purpose of research. While many other Bollywood films have made it into this library, Dam 999 happens to be first Indian film to be included even before its theatrical release.^[40]

References

1. ^ "BizTV Network Website". BizTV Network. http://www.biztvnetworks.com/. Retrieved 2010-10-28. 
2. ^ "Spring 2011 Best Winners". Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood. 2009-10-14. http://www.hollywoodcff.com/2011_Best_Winners_%28Spring%29.html. 
3. ^ "DAM999 Official Website". DAM999. http://www.damthemovie.com/. Retrieved 2010-03-08. 
4. ^ "A film based on Mullaperiyar dam issue". Express Buzz. 28 Feb 2010. http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=A%20film%20based%20on%20Mullaperiyar%20dam%20issue&artid=7/AGINZDWms=&SectionID=TPEu9LXF3Wk=&MainSectionID=TPEu9LXF3Wk=&SectionName=H6Lz7EG5SyQeO7G0FyybQg==&SEO=Hollywood. 
5. ^ "Rimes of the modern mariner". The Week Manorama Online News. February 21, 2010. http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Entertainment&contentId=6784158&programId=1073754907&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL. 
6. ^ "VINAY’S ENGLISH FILM". Behind Woods News Stories. February 27, 2010. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/feb-10-04/vinay-dam999-27-02-10.html. 
7. ^ "Thilakan is excluded from the English Movie". Mathrubhumi. March 2, 2010. http://frames.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=86584. 
8. ^ "DAM999(2011)". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1656171/fullcredits#cast. 
9. ^ "I will be submitting Dam999 for the Oscars". Rediff.com. June 22, 2010. http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jun/22/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-sohan-roy.htm. 
10. ^ "Nine’s the word!". The hindu. Oct 24, 2009. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/10/24/stories/2009102451611700.htm. 
11. ^ "Another Superhero". damthemovie blog. June 10, 2010. http://www.damthemovie.com/blog/another-superhero/. 
12. ^ "Thilakan to enter Hollywood". One India. Feb 3, 2009. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2009/thilakan-dam-999-hollywood-film-030209.html. 
13. ^ "It's official; Thilakan is out of Dam 999". Nowrunning. Mar 1, 2010. http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/its-official;-thilakan-is-out-of-dam-999/30204/story.htm. 
14. ^ ^{a b} "Rajath Kapoor replaces Thilakan in Dam 999". One India. Mar 11, 2010. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2010/rajath-replace-thilakan-080310.html. 
15. ^ "Malayalam film body gives Thilakan another chance". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/-Malayalam-film-body-gives-Thilakan-another-chance/articleshow/5659957.cms. Retrieved 8 March 2010. 
16. ^ "Shooting of DAM999 to commence at Alappuzha from Mar one". Kerala2010 Blogspot. February 27, 2010. http://kerala2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/shooting-of-999-to-commence-at.html. 
17. ^ "Suspended from AMMA, Thilakan says he will not give up". The Hindu. March 1, 2010. http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article124453.ece. 
18. ^ "Thilakan out of Dam 999". indiaglitz. March 3, 2010. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/54933.html. 
19. ^ "Thilakan paid compensation by 'Dam 999' makers". Nowrunning. Mar 8, 2010. http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/thilakan-paid-compensation-by-dam-999-makers/30403/story.htm. 
20. ^ "Heroine issue stops ‘Dam 999’". Indiaglitz. March 26, 2010. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/55623.html. 
21. ^ "My toughest challenge was learning Telugu'". Newshunt. 13 May 2010. http://expressbuzz.com/biography/my-toughest-challenge-was-learning-telugu/172932.html. 
22. ^ "Dam 999 in trouble again!". Entertainment oneindia. March 30, 2010. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2010/dam-999-trouble-300310.html. 
23. ^ "Smooth sailing". The Hindu. May 14, 2010. http://www.hindu.com/cp/2010/05/14/stories/2010051450811000.htm. 
24. ^ "Hyderabad witnesses climax of DAM 999 - A Sohan Roy Film". Washingtonbanglaradio. 2 June 2010. http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/6881210-hyderabad-witnesses-climax-dam-999-sohan-roy-film-shooting-mostly-complete-world-pre. 
25. ^ "DAM 999 has successfully completed its shoot in Hyderabad". Maritime-executive. June 1, 2010. http://www.maritime-executive.com/pressrelease/dam-999-has-successfully-completed-its-shoot-hyderabad/. 
26. ^ "DAM 999 – Releasing Dec 2010". isongz. August 12, 2010. http://isongz.com/bollywood-news/dam-999-releasing-dec-2010. 
27. ^ "Disaster film opens Dam debate". The National, UAE. October 29, 2010. http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/disaster-film-opens-dam-debate. 
28. ^ "Film Makers to raise Dam issue". IMDB. 9 September 2010. http://www.imdb.com/news/ni4233573/. 
29. ^ "DAM999 promises a 3D disaster spectacle". Twitch. 13 October 2010. http://twitchfilm.net/news/2010/10/dam999-promises-a-3d-disaster-spectacle.php. 
30. ^ "When the levee breaks... in 3D". The Times of India,. October 23, 2010. http://www.timescrest.com/life/when-the-levee-breaks-in-3d-3820. 
31. ^ "A dam of emotions". Cinema.com, Malaysia. October 28, 2010. http://www.cinema.com.my/news/news.aspx?search=2010.n_Dam999_4338. 
32. ^ "Warner Bros to distribute Indian disaster drama DAM999". IMDB.com. July 14, 2011. http://www.imdb.com/news/ni12771206/. 
33. ^ "DAM999 3D Movie website unvield as world's first". 3dformat.info. April 14, 2011. http://3dformat.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:dam999-3d-movie-website-unvield-as-worlds-first&catid=9:3d-news. 
34. ^ "Sohan Roy". IMDB.com. 2011-04-20. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm844478464/nm3910829. 
35. ^ "DAM 999: A Novel". Coinjoos.com. 2011-10-14. http://www.coinjoos.com/books/DAM-999-A-Novel-by-Sohan-Roy-book-9380834450. 
36. ^ "Sohan Roy's DAM 999 Receives Great Response at Marché du film, Cannes Film Festival". washingtonbanglaradio.com. May 16, 2011. http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/52587411-sohan-roys-dam-999-receives-great-response-march-du-film-cannes-film-festival. 
37. ^ "DAM999 at European Film Market". damthemovie.com. January 29, 2011. http://www.damthemovie.com/blog/tag/dam999-at-european-film-market/. 
38. ^ "3D Movie DAM999 in AFM 2010". zimbio.com. October 20, 2011. http://www.zimbio.com/Bollywood+Movies/articles/-Ft5rSYT-C3/3D+Movie+DAM999+in+AFM+2010. 
39. ^ "DAM999 at Dubai International Film Festival 2010". damthemovie.com. December 22, 2011. http://www.damthemovie.com/blog/tag/dubai-international-film-festival-2010/. 
40. ^ "B' WOOD MOVIES IN THE OSCAR LIBRARY". City Journal. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.

External links

• Official website
• Dam 999 at the Internet Movie Database
• DAM999, 3D Independent Movie on newkerala.com
• Dam 999 on The Movie Insider
• Dam 999 on Rediff.com