Sohan Roy 'feels great' as 'DAM999' makes it to Oscars prelims

Controversial DAM999, which has been banned in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the Mullaperiyar dam row with Kerala, has been shortlisted among the 265 films that made it to the ballot list for the Oscars 2011 and its debutant director Sohan Roy is over the moon.

"I am really happy that it made it in the preliminary rounds. It has a very good chance (in the end). Definitely it's a great feeling. We shall wait and see,"  Roy told PTI over phone from Indonesia.

"It's a recognition for the Indian film industry, since the film has only Indian crew," he added.

The Tamil Nadu government banned DAM999, depicting collapse of a dam, after various political parties protested against it claiming it was based on Mullaperiyar dam issue over which the state and Kerala are locked in a row.

A press release from the makers of DAM999 said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that 265 feature films are eligible for the 2011 Academy awards and joining this list is the debut venture of Keralite Sohan Roy.

The movie had a week long Oscar Qualifying screening at Los Angeles in October which was a huge success, the release said.

The film's songs —  theme song — 'Dakkanga Dugu Dugu' and 'Mujhe Chod Ke' — have also been shortlisted among the final 39 songs selected for the Academy Original Songs category.

The lyrics are penned by director Sohan Roy and the music composer is renowned music director Ousephachan.

National award winner Hariharan has lent his voice to the Hindi song 'Mujhe Chod Ke' and vocals for the other two shortlisted songs were by Suchith, Suvi and Shaktisree.

Roy said this was a 'crowning achievement' for his dream project.

Asked about the Tamil Nadu government's ban on the film, he said, "The matter is in the Supreme Court and comes for hearing again on January 2. I am 100 per cent sure that Tamils will get to see the movie."

Roy was in Chennai on December 12 to meet Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Rameshram Misra and presented his views on Tamil Nadu government's ban imposed on his film.

The 84th academy awards nominations would be announced live on January 24 in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.