All about Lingaa Dam – The real story behind

All about Lingaa Dam – The real story behind

Note: This article is inspired from various search terms that has lead users to my Lingaa Movie Review. If you are looking review on Lingaa movie click here.  The facts presented here on Mullai Periyar Dam are based on Wikipedia article. The facts on correlation to Lingaa are purely based on my views and may not be accurate.

In the past week I had been noticing the search terms that had been leading users to my blog. The search terms indicate that many of movie enthusiasts are looking to learn the actual story that had inspired Lingaa. Many of them believe that there was a person by name Lingeswaran who had constructed the dam for people during British rule and they are in search of information to learn more about it.

This article is an attempt to provide some facts on which Lingaa story is based on.  First of all the story of Lingeswaran is loosely based on a real person who had constructed a Dam amidst of all odds. The dam which he built in real was Mullai Periyar Dam in Idukki district of Kerala. And the person who built was a British engineer John Pennycuick. Yes you are reading it right; the dam was built by a British engineer. To celebrate his contributions Madurai PWD has a statue for John Pennycuick in their premises.

Why was his contribution so great? Let us look into the real story

 

John Pennycuick statue in Madurai PWD premises
John Pennycuick statue in Madurai PWD premises

The Real Story: 

Periyar river was originally flowing westward originating from the Western Ghats and flowing towards Arabian Sea. A large volume of water was getting wasted as it did not flow through many lands. Right from the late 18th century there had been discussion to turn this water eastward towards Madurai to augment the small Vaigai river that would provide enough water to do irrigation. But the efforts were given up as the project was deemed to be infeasible both technically and financially. It was only during 1887 the construction of the Mullai Periyar dam began under the leadership of John Pennyquick. But frequent floods had created many obstacles from the dam being constructed and the British government stopped funding the project stating the in feasibility.

John Pennycuick was not ready to give up. He went to Britain sold his wife’s jewelry and family property to raise the money needed for the construction of the dam. The Dam was finally completed in the year 1895 and still keeps the region surrounding it green for many generations. Pennycuick said “I am going to be only once in this earthly world, hence I need to do some good deeds here. This deed should not be prorogue nor ignored since I am not going to be here again”.

Similarities and Disimilarities with Lingaa

As you can see Lingaa’s story resembles Pennycuick’s in many ways. In fact the dialogue of Lingeswaran about living in this earth for once so resembles the quote of Pennycuick. Raja Lingeswaran sells all his property to complete the construction of the Dam as did Pennycuick. Both of them had to do this as the British government had stopped funding the project. The difference was Pennycuick was actually a Britisher and there were no drama of a villain in real life. The villain was nature itself then. In the movie Rajini had to fight against some gruesome villains to complete the Dam construction.

 

Where was Lingaa shot

Solaiyur is a fictional village in the movie and there is no such dam that exists. Lingaa was shot in and around Sagara Taluk in Karnataka. This is the region where Jog falls is located. The dam seen in the movie is the Linganamakki dam which is built across Sharavati River.

If you read Indian history you would realize the importance of a Dam in the development of India. Particularly in a country where there are non-perennial rivers and perennial rivers that cause a huge amount of flood there by causing more damage. Dams are great savior for our development and progress not only in the area of agriculture but also power, infrastructure development and many more. At the time of Visveswaraya who had constructed the KRS Dam the civil engineering discipline in India was at its peak and inspired many to take it up.

Hats off to the Lingaa team for narrating such a story through cinema.

24 thoughts on “All about Lingaa Dam – The real story behind”

  1. Greatest Legacies of Bharat : As per the historical records, the greatest legacies of Bharat , who sacrificied there own lives, at the expense of the next generations will produce such type of peoples as there children serving the masses in need. Why in the world, such greatest families produce or pro create a criminal (A Theif and A Thug). The legacies of Criminals will usually produce as they were born, brought up in such type of environments in real life.

    Just a Movie but the concept is really funny to know the story of it. No wonder we need to remove our ‘brain and mind’ to watch it like a Rajni Sir : Man of the Masses Movie.

  2. I personally have a great respect to Rajni Sir, but this movie just doesn’t makes any real logical sense in reality, which appeals to his mass appeal to the masses.

  3. REAL MAN OF THE MASSSES RAJNI SIR : If he does the same thing, what his grand parents, parents legacies of the “MAN OF THE MASSES @ REAL LIFE NOT REEL LIFE ( PAKALAS & GOLLAKOTAS FAMILY LEGACIES OF TWIN CITIES @ VSKP & AKP : Examples : 1. Great Grand Father : Pakala Rama Joga Rao Garu : Kept 3 properties gave everything to the masses 2. Great Grand Father : Gollakota Bucchi Rama Rao garu : MD of Sugar Factory : Didn’t even had a home, rental place and gave evertything to the masses. Jamindarla Vamsam : Gandhis, Nehru and PVNR Knows about it the greatest sacrificies they did for the city, state and country @ 1900-1950-75+) : 1.Building Bridges, 2. Building Schools for the poorest children 3. Budilding Hospitals to the masses 4. Feeding the poorest masses (Ex : Annadanalu) 5. Building Industries….N, makes more sense in reality of the movie story.

    Greatest Family Legacies (1…..N) of Bharat : As per the historical records of research , the greatest legacies and greatest figures of Bharat , who sacrificied there own lives, at the expense of the next generations will produce such type of peoples as there children serving the masses in need. Why in the world, such greatest families produce or pro create a criminal (A Theif , A Thug ….N). The ‘Legacies of Criminals’ will usually produce as they were born, brought up in such type of environments in real life on the streets of Chennai …N, as I have seen and managed peoples on IITs and on the streets of Adyar, Chennai . Just a Movie but the concept is really funny to know the story of it. No wonder we need to remove our ‘brain and mind’ to watch it like a Rajni Sir : Man of the Masses Movie. I personally have a great respect to Rajni Sir, but this movie just doesn’t makes any real logical sense in reality, which appeals to his ” mass appeal to the masses “. Simple Logic Righteousness (S.L.R).

    Great Grand Fathers Legacies : I’M your grand son Chandra V Pakala, Richfield, MN, USA, that’s what I did so far in India & USA, but future I’m not sure, as no one served or gave a ‘paisa or cent’ in return for us in need, when we needed most.

    Note : That will draw probably billion dollar revenue markets to the film industry. Even if it draws, we don’t take give it to the poorest in need. Class of Families.

  4. Greatest Legacy of Families : Ask all the greatest legacy of families to serve the poorest in need now, during the global crisis, and ask them to show there ‘ Class of Legacies ‘ .

  5. How is it ? ” Summa Athruthilla ” ? ” Na Oru Daruva Sonna Oru Daruva Sonnu Madiri, Noor saru kyo ”
    ( In Telugu : ” Manishiki oka mata, godduko debba antaru ga ” ). Just Kidding.

  6. My Personal and Individual Community and Social Service contributions to ‘numerous social service and community charitable organizations’, which serves peoples (Causes : 1………N) in need locally and globally under a very very tough and most difficult times of there human lives and humanity crisis.

    —————————————————————————————————————————————————-

    Legacy of my Grandparents & Parents in India & USA : PAKALAS & GOLLAKOTAS LEGACIES
    —————————————————————————————————————————————————–
    I’m simply doing my grandparents and parents legacy of India in USA, particularly to the underprivileged ( Ex : Poorest Children), when they really needed most during this, ‘very difficult tough global economic crisis’, not only in USA but also around the global human & humanity crisis.

    Example : USA : 501 3 © : Non Profit Organizations: ( Social Service , Community & Fun Activities ) :

    Total : 350+ Hours (Local & Global Communities) : GOOD GENEROUS CHARITABLE WORK :
    ——————————————————————————————————————————————

    • Yr 14 : Volunteered Total : 175 Hours.

    • Yr 14 : Pro-actively volunteering as a simple ‘Individual’ for the winter school season, on 12/23/2014 for 2 hours serving underprivileged local children (Ex : Second Harvest Heartland), which serves 1 in 10 & 20 Children in MN Market for “FREE FOOD”. Volunteered on 08/22/2014 for 3 hours.

    • Yr 14 : Pro – Actively Volunteering on 10/14/14 up to 2 hours of building homes for Low Income Families of MN Market for ‘Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’.

    • Yr 14 : Pro-actively volunteered on 09/06/14 for FMSC 2 hours for serving ‘Food’ for the Children as part of TEAM.

    • Yr 14 : Vibha MN [(Events : TAAL, Cricket Tournament and Dream Mile (Participated by walking)].

    • Yr 13 & 14: Involved with numerous community social service organizations causes like Vibha MN Cricket Carnival Tournament, SV TEMPLE & HINDU MANDIR, T.E.A.M, MCA (1..N Ex : Accenture Cricket Coaching Camp), Second Harvest Heartland, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children.

    • Yr 13 : Volunteered Total : 175 Hours.

    MN Markets : Decade of Experience and Knowledge Being Part of 501 3© Non Profit Organizations :
    ————————————————————————————————————————————————
    Hazaar Juntaa Knows about me here within MN Markets similar @ AKP, VSKP, IIT (INDIA) & NCSU….MN (USA).
    ————————————————————————————————————————————————

    1) Vibha MN : Cause : Underprivileged Children

    2) M.C.A : Minnesota Cricket Association : Cause : Promoting Cricket

    3) Second Harvest Heartland : Cause : Serve the Hungry, to end hunger

    4) Feed My Starving Children : Cause : Serve Hungry Children

    5) Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity : Cause : Serve Homeless by building homes.

    6) Hindu Mandir : Cause : To promote Hindu Philosophy and Religion by serving local communities.

    7) S.V. Temple : Cause : To promote Hindu Philosophy and Religion by serving local communities.

    8) T.E.A.M : Telugu Association of Minnesota : Cause : To Assist and promote
    cultural, charitable, educational, social and community affairs of the Telugu speaking people in Minnesota.

    9) TAMIL SANGAM : Only help good friends in mutual support.

    ————————————————————————————————————————————————

  7. Greatest Grand Fathers Legacies [ ( PAKALAS & GOLLAKOTAS : Evidence of Proof : DOCS Should also be there with VSKP, AP, India Governments and We should have a Original Docs of it also : USA : I keep ‘Original Files & Docs’ ) ] :

    During there times, ‘Word is a Bond’ (SIMPLE : ” MAN OF A WORD “), even for peoples like me.
    Peoples know about it, even the ‘oldest civilizations’ still knows about our families legacies.

    I’M grand son of greatest families, Chandra V Pakala, Richfield, MN, USA, that’s what I did so far in India & USA, but future is very uncertain markets, as I’m not sure, since no one served or gave a ‘paisa or cent’ in return for me or us in need, when I or we needed most like to be ‘practical and reality’ in life.

    My Class and Our Class of Families is different than others in the Markets 1……………………………………………………N.

    1. Thanks for your comment Hrish… I did not know about Arthur Cotton before… Thanks for sharing it 🙂

  8. Nice dam it is one of the best historical and spiritual dam to build by raja lingeswaran for the people

  9. Lingaa Movie Action @ Reality Reaction Concept :

    Simple Law of Action Movie == Simple Law of Reaction Reality

    I think with shortage of water & fiscal respurces, I think Rajnikanth Dynasty Families may need to do in the future at Chennai where he lives (I think), if not at Madurai .

    Just my own 2 paisa opinions for solving the water resources problems to the TNites ( For Ex : Chennaites ).

    Chandra V Pakala
    ( Real Life : Man of the Masses : People’s know me )

  10. Simple C ! ( I Do Not Coach ) Strategy Success :

    1. Natural Element : Water Resources

    For Ex : AD : 1800 – 1981.

    River Bridge & Floods @ Anakapalle ( My Birth Place ) , Anna Purna ( A.P ), BHARAT .

    My family legacies of dynasties ( GOLLAKOTAS @ AKP & PAKALAS @ VSKP ), that’s exactly what they ( Grand grand parents & grand parents : grand father : Late Shri GOLLAKOTA Bucchi Rama Rao Garu ), did first with Action Reality Movie ( Except the looting part of it as it was done by British Civilizations who came to loot Golden BHARAT Wealth ).

    I still remember not only I donated some of my gold jewellary of baby & kid items ( For Ex : Gold Chain ), but also kiddi bank ( Childhood Savings resources ) ” paisas ” to the City Development , Progress & Opportunities @ Reality Life Business ( 1. Water for life ) .

    I think Rajni sir , Kamal ji ….N families knows our families as well, when they were very underprivileged artists, numerous times our families helped & supported them in reality especially late beloved uncle Shri Gollakota Jagappa Garu ( Legacies of Ticket Sales : Helps the social causes & problems @ masses ) .

    Naam : Log Jante Hai @ Reality Actions ( A First ) @ Life Business.

    Pakala V.B.R.Chandra Sekhar
    Mother Side : GOLLAKOTAS

  11. My opinions are simply my own individual & personal nothing
    against any individuals & personalities as simply
    that’s none of my business,
    I prefer to focus & mind my
    own business .

  12. The British the sole purpose systematic dismantling of a nation .there r patches of good people here and there among British may b one among cold be the dam.
    None the less we r still there slaves.

  13. Simple C ! ( I do not coach slavery concept & system ) Strategy Succeess

    By making everyone slaves, they themselves became slaves @ trade first & governance next systems .

    Simple System : ” Emancipation @ Pro Clamation Systems ”

    For Ex : A Simple Baby Species : Birds, Squirrels & Rabbits : Freedom @ Trade & Governance & Work :

    ” Just Simply Have Fun & Enjoy Life Business Systems ”

    Chandra v Pakala

    Ubiquitous Freedom Concept Systems @ Reality

  14. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, KCIE (popularly known as Sir MV; 15 September 1861 – 12 April 1962)[1][2] was an Indian engineer, scholar, statesman and the Diwan of Mysuru from 1912 to 1918. He is a recipient of the Indian Republic’s highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the British Indian Empire (KCIE) by King George V for his contributions to the public good. 15 September is celebrated as Engineer’s Day in India in his memory. He is held in high regard as a pre-eminent engineer of India. He was the chief engineer responsible for the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mysuru (Now in Mandya district) as well as the chief designer of the flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad

  15. With the support of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, Maharaja of Mysore, Visvesvaraya made good contribution as Diwan to the all-round development of Mysore state. Not only the achievements listed above, but many other industries and public works owe their inception or active nurturing to him. He was instrumental in the founding of the Government Engineering College at Bangalore in 1917, one of the first engineering institutes in India. This institution was later named the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering after its founder. He also commissioned several new railway lines in Mysore state.

  16. Actually this story based on the R”aja Chhatrapati Shahu maharaj”, He was the king in “Kolhapur, Maharashtra”. Automatic door system first time used in Asia in the “Tulasi Dam, Radhanagari.”These doors are still in working condition, I’m from Radhanagari. If anyone really knows the information then please visit Radhanagari (Tahsil of Dam).

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