Environmentalists are up in arms against Dhanush’s film Captain Miller, stating that the shooting of the movie is causing problems to wild animals in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KTMR) in Tamil Nadu.
C. Rajeev, Director of Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai, told IANS, “It has to be properly looked into whether proper permissions have been taken for the shooting of the movie Captain Miller near the buffer zone near the KTMR tiger reserve. Local people have complained that the high beam lights are affecting the wildlife including elephants and tigers besides other animals. The environment ministry has to conduct a proper probe as to whether permission has been granted and if so, then how.”
A big set has been constructed on private land adjacent to the KTMR reserve and lighting and fireworks are used on the set. The shooting for the movie, produced by Satya Jyothi Films, is likely to conclude in mid-April.
When contacted, councillor Rama Udayakumar said that the movie unit has damaged the Chenkulam canal bank and filled it with soil.
Udaykumar said, “This canal is the lifeline of 15 water tanks as it brings water to these tanks from Cottulam waterfalls. The forest department must immediately take action. The film crew is stating that they are close to the ruling dispensation.”
Local people have also complained to the district forest authorities about the presence of a single Tusker on farmland and said that the Tusker was not going to the forest due to the lighting and fireworks that drives the wild animals out of their habitats.
Tamil Nadu forest minister’s office told IANS that they were looking into the matter and will brief the media after taking feedback from forest department authorities.
