Commercial films, serials cannot be shot in wildlife sanctuaries: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that commercial films and television serials cannot be shot in wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, or tiger reserves. This decision was made in response to a legal challenge filed by Malayalam filmmaker Tharun Moorthy against his own upcoming movie "Athimanoharam," which features actor Mohanlal.

The court's Division Bench comprising Justices Raja V. Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar stated that only two specific locations, if requested, could be granted permission between August 18 and 28, contingent upon payment of the necessary fees and the execution of an agreement with the Forest and Wildlife department.

The petition addressed to the Divisional Forest Officer in Ranni and the Deputy Director of the Periyar West Division, Peerumedu, sought the court's intervention to evaluate the filmmaker's requests. It was brought to the court's attention that the Travancore Devaswom Board had previously granted permission for filming, contingent upon obtaining prior approval from the Forest officials.

However, upon filing the petition, the Deputy Director in Peerumedu reviewed the case and concluded that the areas targeted for filming were part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), which had been leased to the Devaswom Board to facilitate the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Despite the dismissal of the petition, the court made it clear that the petitioners retained the right to contest the Deputy Director's refusal to grant permission.

The court's decision serves as a reminder of the stringent regulations governing film production in protected wildlife areas. While the petitioners have the option to appeal the court's decision, the overarching directive remains clear: commercial filmmaking in conservation zones is currently off-limits in Kerala.