Finally Mani Ratnam using his clout has managed to convince the Kerala Government, and has got conditional access to the virgin green Malayatoor reserve forest areas to shoot his Ravana.
Last Friday the shoot was suspended after Kerala forest department found unauthorized construction of thatched huts in Mani's shooting location.
However the government has put forward stiff conditions. Now they will have to pay Rs 10,000 per day for the shoot, earlier it was only Rs 1000 for the entire 25 days shoot!
During the shoot no member of the unit can smoke ( can start forest fires), nor any plastic material( mineral water bottle?) can be brought into the location.
The unit cannot consist of more than 150 people, only 10 unit vehicles (generator van, caravans for artists etc) and 15 cars including jeeps can be brought into the location.
Only one generator will be used for the shoot, Jimmy Jip cranes cannot be used for the shoot. The shooting will be allowed only during 6AM to 6PM. No night shooting will be allowed.
Mani had no option other than agreeing to these terms. His plans to shoot in Sri Lanka would never have materialized, as the war against Tamil's holed up in Northern part of the island is getting bitter.
Meanwhile Abhishek Bachchan and Aiswarya Rai will join the shoot on Friday. Already Vikram, Pritviraj and Priyamani are at the location.
It looks like Vikram will have to share his caravan with Pritviraj, due to the limited number of caravans allowed on the sets
Last Friday the shoot was suspended after Kerala forest department found unauthorized construction of thatched huts in Mani's shooting location.
However the government has put forward stiff conditions. Now they will have to pay Rs 10,000 per day for the shoot, earlier it was only Rs 1000 for the entire 25 days shoot!
During the shoot no member of the unit can smoke ( can start forest fires), nor any plastic material( mineral water bottle?) can be brought into the location.
The unit cannot consist of more than 150 people, only 10 unit vehicles (generator van, caravans for artists etc) and 15 cars including jeeps can be brought into the location.
Only one generator will be used for the shoot, Jimmy Jip cranes cannot be used for the shoot. The shooting will be allowed only during 6AM to 6PM. No night shooting will be allowed.
Mani had no option other than agreeing to these terms. His plans to shoot in Sri Lanka would never have materialized, as the war against Tamil's holed up in Northern part of the island is getting bitter.
Meanwhile Abhishek Bachchan and Aiswarya Rai will join the shoot on Friday. Already Vikram, Pritviraj and Priyamani are at the location.
It looks like Vikram will have to share his caravan with Pritviraj, due to the limited number of caravans allowed on the sets
