Thiruvananthapuram: The shooting of Athimanoharam, starring Mohanlal and directed by Tharun Moorthy, will not take place on the Sabarimala temple premises. The Forest Department has denied permission to shoot the film there, citing the latest High Court order. The area encompassing the Sabarimala temple falls within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, making Forest Department permission mandatory for filming.

However, permission has been granted for shooting up to Pampa in areas under the Ranni Forest Division. The film will be shot there tomorrow. The Travancore Devaswom Board had earlier granted permission for the shoot, subject to the condition that the entire script be submitted. It had also stipulated that the film should contain nothing that hurts the Sabarimala temple or religious beliefs. In addition, the filmmakers were required to deposit Rs 50,000 and obtain permission from the Forest Department. With the Forest Department now refusing permission for filming at Sannidhanam, the crew is facing a setback.

The film marks the reunion of Tharun Moorthy and Mohanlal after the mega-hit Thudarum. Meera Jasmine plays the female lead. The two actors are collaborating after a long gap. Mohanlal plays a police sub-inspector in the film.

A major portion of the film is set around Sabarimala. Tharun Moorthy has said that nearly 80 per cent of the shooting has been completed. Besides Sabarimala, filming is taking place in Thodupuzha, Kochi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The film is planned as a Christmas release.