Based on the true incident of the Banqiao Dam disaster in 1975 which led to the death of 250,000 lives, ‘Dam 999’ is a Hollywood project which will pay tribute to the lost souls. And behind this international venture is Sohan Roy in his directorial debut. Expresso joins him on an adventurous journey.
The Beginning:
Movie making has always been a passion. After my BTech in naval architecture, I did join the film industry for a short while but, I returned to my profession. Three years ago, I started a TV channel — Marine Biz TV — for the shipping industry. I also did a diploma in direction and production from a Hollywood film institute and started making technical programs for the channel. That was just the beginning.
The turning point
When I started off as an entrepreneur, I found that indulging in my creative pursuits were the best way to de-stress. As a result I started coining shot poems and stories. ‘DAM999’ is loosely based on some of the events I personally witnessed and some as witnessed by my friends. Though there is a good measure of fiction thrown in.
Conceptualising ‘DAM 999’
If you ask me that one key trigger, I would say its is the Banqiao China dam disaster in 1975. I was deeply moved by such loss of lives. It was one of the world’s worst man-made disasters. Around 250,000 people died in that dam collapse but the outside world did not come to know about this for 15 years. I also felt that there are similar events waiting to happen, worsened by corruption and greed. That is where the concept began.
Challenges faced
Challenges were many. The biggest was the shooting on a mighty tanker ship. Getting the permission for any shoots offshore is always tough. No wonder most of the Hollywood movies, including Titanic used graphics or models instead of real ships. Another major challenge was to shoot using everyday mariners as actors and to be honest, I am amazed at the versatility and talent from our marine industry.
The cast and crew
A director doesn’t just direct a movie but he has to manage the whole team. I also had heard that, creativity doesn’t come free, it comes with extra baggage called attitudes, egos and short temperaments. Before I started, I always thought it would be difficult to manage and work with
these creative geniuses as it was my first project and they all were seniors to me. But I should tell you, just for a few minor issues here and there, they were all very cooperative and inspiring. We all worked like a family.
Octopus Boy
Octopian boy is a fictional superhero toy which I created for the movie. It has super strength and agility, he can fly, dive into deep water and he has devices of his own invention. Octopian boy has a funny buddy named Octopus which lives on the shoulders of the Octopian boy. Octopian boy is the toy and companion of Sam, one of the leading characters in the movie played by Jineet Rath. Octopian Boy carried by the child character Sam is basically a toy which has the power to predict future. Sam is very bonded to this toy and he carries the toy everywhere he goes. He thinks this toy can save him from all mishaps.
Oscars
When 16 national and international award winners join together, you expect pure magic on screen. I aim for the Oscars, and that’s why I decided to have the best team for my project. The secret lies in the script and so far it has been well appreciated by the script doctors of Hollywood industry and they have felt it has got the potential to rock at the Oscars.
What next
The next project in my mind is to build India’s first maritime city. We have done the background works but to get it started will take some more years as there is a very huge investment required for it. It will be on the lines of the Dubai maritime city. A one stop centre for all the world’s complete shipping and ship building solutions.
Mammootty and Mohanlal
They are two big legends and also the brand ambassadors of Mollywood. In fact I have grown up seeing them on the screen and they definitely would have inspired me somewhere in my life. If you take Bollywood industry, most of the good technicians have their roots in Mollywood. But Mollywood hasn’t marketed itself well outside its circle even though it is brimming with talent. But I am proud of having my roots in Mollywood.
Indian films abroad
The success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ shows that movies about India don’t get brickbats. But an Indian movie is rarely marketed well abroad. Now Bollywood films have started seeing opportunities and a profitable market exist abroad, but that is not a solution as the language medium of Bollywood movies do not cater to the English speaking community. Also, the real India is not what the Bollywood shows. So we should be having more of English films portraying India and its culture.
Quick Facts:
■ The project costs US $ 10 million approximately.
■ ‘DAM 999’ intends to imprint the Vedic concept of Navarasas and Navagrahas along with the magical curing power of Ayurveda in its characters and situations. It speaks about a colonial dam, its disaster, the 9 characters and their emotions.
■ ‘DAM 999’ has Eric Sherman and Rob Tobin. The Indian crew consists of quite a few critically acclaimed names like Ajayan Vincent, Suresh Pai, Padmasree Thotta Tharani, Ousepachan, K S Chithra, P Jayachandran, Shajith Koyeri, Pattanam Rasheed and S B Satheesh. A line-up of veteran actors like Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajith Kapur, Gary Richardson along with Vinay Rai, Vimala Raman, Megha Burman, Josua Fredric Smith, Jaala Pickering, Linda Arsenio and Jineet Rath form the cast.