‘Athimanoharam’ Film Shooting Begins at Pampa; Mohanlal Appears as Police Officer Among Ayyappa Pilgrims
Nilakkal: The shooting of Mohanlal-starrer Athimanoharam, directed by Tharun Moorthy, began at Nilakkal on Monday. The film is being shot in the Ranni Forest Division.
At Pampa, Mohanlal appeared in a police uniform, filming a scene among Ayyappa pilgrims on their way to Sabarimala.
The day’s shoot featured Mohanlal in a police uniform, filming a scene in which his character helps regulate the movement of Ayyappa devotees heading towards Sabarimala.
The film’s team had earlier sought permission to shoot in areas under the Periyar Tiger Reserve, but permission was not granted. However, the Ranni Forest Division has granted permission for filming at locations including the Nilakkal bus stand and Pamba.
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President K. Jayakumar said the Board has no objection to shooting at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. However, he clarified that permission from the Forest Department is mandatory. He said the TDB had also specified this condition when granting permission for the film.
The second schedule of Athimanoharam was planned to be filmed at Sabarimala. Permission from the Periyar Tiger Reserve is required for filming within areas under its jurisdiction, but the reserve has not granted permission so far.
The filmmakers had earlier released the first-look poster of Mohanlal in a police uniform, showing him standing among Ayyappa devotees on their way to the hill shrine.
Directed by Tharun Moorthy, Athimanoharam follows the official and personal life of Lou Lajan, an ordinary police sub-inspector, and the conflicts and events that unfold in his life.