Mohanlal’s Athimanoharam denied permission to shoot at Sabarimala

The Kerala Forest Department on Monday denied permission to shoot the Mohanlal-starrer Athimanoharam at the Sabarimala Temple premises, citing a recent Kerala High Court order. The area falls under the Periyar Tiger Reserve, making forest department approval mandatory. Shooting is permitted only up to Pamba under the Ranni Forest Department Division.

The Kerala High Court disposed of a petition by director Tarun Moorthy seeking permission, declining to interfere with the Ranni DFO's order. The deputy director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve told the court that judicial and government orders prohibit shooting commercial movies within wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, or tiger reserves. However, the Divisional Forest Officer said shooting can be permitted at specific locations from August 18 to 28 subject to fees and agreement.

Earlier, the Devaswom Board had permitted the shoot subject to script submission, a Rs 50,000 deposit, and forest clearance. Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said shooting is not generally allowed at Sabarimala except for devotional films related to Lord Ayyappa. Nearly 80 per cent of the film's shooting is complete, and it is set for release on December 24.