Shooting of Mani Ratnam film stopped for damaging forest

Kochi, Oct 11 (UNI) Forest officials have halted the shooting of Mani Ratnam's film 'Ravana', being made in Hindi and Tamil, following violation of agreement clauses and damage to the forest area in Malayatoor near here.

Divisional Forest Officer Krishnadev Prasad Sahoo said today the shooting was stopped yesterday after a team of forest officials found that the crew had put up unauthorised structures, damaging the undergrowth in the deep forest area.

A case has been registered against Madras Talkies Manager P T Baby, who had signed the agreement on behalf of the producers of the film, he said.

The forest department has given permission for shooting for 20 days between September 15 to November 15 and the crew had been filming in the area since October 4.

Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Tamil stars Vikram and Prithviraj head the cast of the film.

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