STAY THE SHOOTING AT THIRUMALINAICHER MAHAL

Madras HC says 'no' to shooting films in Thirumalai Naicker Mahal
8/11/2011

11.8.2011 (UNI) The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court (HC) today ordered an 'interim stay' on shooting of films at the historic Thirumalai Naicker Mahal in the city.

A division bench comprising Justices P Jyothimani and M M Sundresh issued the ruling on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by a city-based advocate A S M Muthukumar seeking the court direction to ban shooting of films inside the Mahal, a residential palace built by King Thirumalai Nayak of Nayak dynasty in 1636 AD.

The petitioner contended that the Mahal, a heritage monument under the control of Archeological Survey of India (ASI), was a classic example of the Indo-Saracenic style having 248 giant pillars of each 58 feet-tall and five feet in diameter.

The palace is a blend of Italian, Islamic, European and Dravidian style of architecture, where film shooting was allowed for a rent of Rs 5,000 per day.

He alleged that during film shooting, the giant pillars and walls were spoiled by drilling and other activities. Because of this, the Mahal was suffering damage and losing its glory.

Moreover, the Mahal was renovated at a cost of Rs three crore, recently by the government. He had already submitted a petition to the Madurai District Collector and the Deputy Director of ASI, appealing them to ban shooting of films inside the palace.

But, no action was taken so far. Hence the PIL was filed, the petitioner said.

After hearing the petitioner, the division bench ordered an interim stay on shooting films in the Mahal and also issued notices to the Madurai District Collector and the Deputy Director of ASI in this connection.

In the tourist itinerary of Madurai, Thirumalai Naicker Mahal takes the second place, after the world-renowned Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple. The Mahal attracts a large number of tourists from inland and abroad. UNI