Elephant brought for the shoot turns amok, killing its mahout-Film company served notice

[Guest guest]

Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it takes till he knows That too many

people(ELEPHANTS) have died......The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the

wind..... JOHN LENNON

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Mani-Ratnams-film-company-served-s\

how-cause-notice/articleshow/4838626.cms

 

Mani Ratnam's film company served show cause notice

PTI 30 July 2009, 06:58pm IST

KOCHI: Ace director Mani Ratnam's film production company Madras Talkies has

been issued a show cause notice by the Animal Welfare Board for not

taking permission to use elephants in his film 'Ravan' starring Abishek Bachchan

and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

 

One of the two elephants brought for the shoot had turned amok, killing its

mahout on Wednesday. Police said there was no shooting on Thursday and the unit

had informed them that they were shifting to Udhagamandalam.

 

The film was being shot with the lead pair in the forests near Athirampally

waterfalls in Thrissur district when the mahout was trampled to death by the

elephant after the shoot was over. Aishwarya, Abhishekh and Mani Ratnam were at

the shooting site when the incident took place.

 

Board secretary D Rajasekar said that no permission had been obtained by Mani

Ratnam, producer and director of the bilingual film 'Ravaan', for using

elephants.

 

The Board has asked the company to submit its reply in seven days and the Chief

Wildlife Warden to give a report about the incident.

 

Rajasekar said a No-objection certificate has to be obtained from the Board for

shooting films, TV serials and commercials in which animals are used.

 

The elephant, which stood in the middle of the road blocking the way of the star

pair, who were staying at Athirampally Rain forest resort, was brought under

control late last night and taken away from the spot at 2am on Thursday, police

said.

 

Abhishek and Aishwarya had to take a different route to their hotel on

Wednesday.

 

Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

http://www.animalcrusaders.org