State rights panel registers case over film shoot at taluk hospital

Kochi: A nighttime filming of a Malayalam movie, at the causality wing of govt taluk hospital in Angamaly has sparked criticism with the state human rights commission (SHRC) registering a suo motu case regarding the incident on Friday.
The commission has also sought explanation from the district medical officer (DMO) of Ernakulam and the superintendent of the taluk hospital, for causing inconvenience to patients who visited the hospital during night hours.
However, the health authorities have already come up with an explanation that they have followed all procedures to grant permission for film shooting in a hospital. After health minister Veena George sought the details regarding the incident, Ernakulam DMO submitted a report to the director of health services on Friday.
The shoot of the movie ‘Painkili’, being produced by actor Fahadh Faasil, was held in the casualty wing of the hospital on Thursday night. It was learnt that they were filming scenes of a private hospital there.
According to the press note issued by the commission, the shooting of the movie at the taluk hospital started at 9pm and the lights of the emergency room of the hospital were dimmed and restrictions were imposed in the area for the shooting purpose. “Around 50 people, including actors, were in the emergency room. It was understood that the shooting of the film took place even while the doctors were continuing treatment. The patient who came in with a critical condition did not even make it to the emergency department as no one was allowed through the main gate. The crew was instructing the patients and bystanders to keep quiet during filming”, it says.
In his order asking the health official to submit a report with explanation within seven days, commission member V K Beenakumari has pointed out that Angamaly taluk hospital is a refuge for people who are lower strata of society. The suo motu case was taken on the basis of reports regarding the shoot that appeared in a section of the media.
Ruling out the allegation that treatment procedures at the hospital were affected, the superintendent of the hospital Dr Sunil J Elanthat said the shooting was held only in the reception area, and it did not affect the visitors of the hospital. “Hospital functioned normally, and the shooting procedures did not cause inconvenience to the visitors” he said.
The shooting was scheduled for Thursday night and Friday. The shoot on Friday was cancelled following various media reports. The permission for the shooting was granted by the office of the heath director. In the backdrop of the direction from the SHRC, I have given a detailed explanation regarding the incident to the district medical officer, he said.
Kerala Film Producers Association also came up with an explanation that the shooting did not affect the functioning of the hospital.