“As the film is believed to show the collapse of the Mullaperiyar dam and contains scenes that went against Tamil Nadu’s interests (in the backdrop of the inter-State river water dispute), we have resolved not to screen ‘Anai-999’ (Tamil version) across the State in deference to the plea by several organisations,” the Association said in a statement in Chennai.

The film ‘Dam 999’, made by a Kerala production house and directed by Sohan Roy, is believed by leaders of most political parties in Tamil Nadu to subtly justify and prepare the ground for the Kerala Government’s planned move to “demolish the Mullaperiyar dam”.

Kerala believes the dam is too weak to resist any serious earthquake in the seismically sensitive Idukki district and wants to build a new dam in its place bordering Tamil Nadu. But the lower riparian State has been opposing any move to pull down the existing dam, as it is the lifeline of farmers of ten districts in Southern parts of Tamil Nadu from Theni.