Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Documentary on Mullaperiyar released

Staff Reporter

It will be screened for the public in five districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is estimated that around 30 lakh people in the districts of Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta will be wiped out if the Mullaperiyar dam bursts.

The potential catastrophe of unimaginable magnitude has been visualised in a documentary produced by the Disaster Management Division of the School of Social Science, Mahatma Gandhi University.

The 24-minute documentary titled `Mullaperiyar, Muzhangunna Maranamani' was released here at the Press Club here on Thursday.

The documentary, which uses computer animation to depict the probable tragedy, shows panic-stricken inhabitants with toddlers in their arms running helter-skelter in the wake of the disaster.

"We wanted to exploit the power of the visual medium in conveying the ferocity of the disaster," said A.V. George, head of the disaster management division. "Our aim is to spread awareness among the public about the magnitude a probable disaster." The documentary directed by Roy Peechatt is based on a book `Mullaperiyar and the threat faced by Kerala' written by Mr. George. Some of the rare photographs taken during the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam as well as its history have been highlighted in the documentary. The presentation also drives home the need of installing early warning systems in regions that are in proximity to the dam.

The documentary would be screened for public in all the five districts that are likely to be hit in the wake of the tragedy, Mr. Peechatt said.

"We are also exploring the possibility of screening the documentary in other States and also in New Delhi."

Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran shares his view on the issue in the documentary. The film is edited by Saji Koothattukulam and narrated by Sebastian Paul, Member of Parliament.

Arjun is the cameraman. The film is also dubbed in English.

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