Permission can’t be granted to shoot film starring Mohanlal: Periyar Tiger Reserve tells Kerala HC

The deputy director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve informed the Kerala High Court that permission cannot be granted for a film starring actor Mohanlal to be shot within wildlife sanctuaries, national parks or tiger reserves. This response came in the wake of a plea by Malayalam film director Tharun Moorthi, who had requested the Divisional Forest Officer and Deputy Director to make a swift decision on his application for permission to shoot his film, Athimanoharam, at Pamba and Sannidhanam.

The deputy director emphasized that the areas in question are part of the sanctuary and have been leased or diverted for the Sabarimala pilgrimage by the Travancore Devaswom Board, but the legal status of these land remains unchanged. The Divisional Forest Officer stated that shooting could be permitted at specified locations from August 18 to August 28, provided the director pays the necessary fees and signs an agreement with the Forest and Wildlife Department.

The bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar subsequently dismissed the plea. Earlier, Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan clarified that film shooting is generally prohibited at Sabarimala and is only granted for devotional and mythological films related to Lord Ayyappa. When confronted about reports of a Mohanlal-starring film and allegations of denial of permission by the Devaswom, Muraleedharan stated that he was unaware of the matter until media reports brought it to his attention.

He reiterated that shooting of regular films is not permitted at Sabarimala and that permission is only given for films related to the temple.