Mohanlal's Athimanoharam begins at Sabarimala amid minister's film shoot ban

The shooting of Mohanlal-starrer Athimanoharam began in the Pampa region of Sabarimala on Tuesday, despite Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan saying that no permission should be granted for regular film shoots at the temple. The Sabarimala temple is located on the banks of the river Pampa.Actor Mohanlal, who leads the film, was seen in a police avatar as the team filmed in Pampa. The crew had earlier secured permission from the Travancore Devaswom Board to shoot in the Pampa and Nilakkal areas. Beyond Pampa, they were asked to secure permission from the forest department. The Forest Department, however, denied permission for filming beyond Pampa, citing the area's location within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.The development has now put the spotlight on the apparent difference between the Devaswom Board's decision and the state government's position on film shoots at Sabarimala.The Travancore Devaswom Board is an autonomous statutory body that administers temples under its jurisdiction and the government cannot dictate terms regarding granting permissions. The Board had reportedly granted Athimanoharam permission to shoot at Sabarimala with several conditions. That permission did not extend to areas under the Forest Department's control.Speaking to India Today, Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said he would look into the matter and reiterated the government's position that Sabarimala should not be used as a regular film-shooting location. "We can't let movie shoots happen at Sabarimala. Permission can be granted only for movies related to Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala temple and religious films. Normal films cannot be granted permission. Temples cannot be given for shooting. That’s government policy," he said.The controversy began after the Travancore Devaswom Board approved the Athimanoharam shoot, reportedly allowing filming from Pampa to Sannidhanam while laying down guidelines for the production. The Forest Department subsequently refused permission for filming in the areas under its jurisdiction.The latest development raises questions over the extent of the Devaswom Board's authority to permit commercial film shoots at Sabarimala and how such permissions intersect with the jurisdiction of the Forest Department and the state government.For now, the Athimanoharam team has proceeded with its shoot in Pampa, while the larger question over whether regular commercial films should be allowed at Sabarimala remains at the centre of the controversy.Athimanoharam, written by Ratheesh Ravi, is an investigative thriller directed by Tharun Moorthy. It features Mohanlal as Sub Inspector TS Lovelajan and Meera Jasmine as Naicy, marking Mohanlal's 366th film. The movie is slated to hit theatres on December 24, 2026.- EndsPublished By: Vineeta KumarPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 19:51 IST