October 9, 2024: In a landmark decision, the Kerala High Court has affirmed that temples are primarily sacred places of worship and should not be used as locations for film productions. This ruling comes in response to a petition challenging the permissions granted for a film shoot at the Thrippunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa temple.

The court emphasized the need to preserve the sanctity of religious sites, highlighting the potential disrespect that commercial filming could bring to these revered spaces. The petition raised concerns about the appropriateness of allowing non-religious films to be shot within temple premises, arguing that such activities undermine the spiritual significance of these locations and may offend the sentiments of devotees.

The petitioner pointed to incidents that have occurred during festival seasons, including reports of mahouts consuming alcohol and visitors entering temples wearing sandals, which further diminish the reverence traditionally associated with these sites.

In light of these concerns, the High Court has requested explanations from the state government and the Cochin Devaswom Board, the governing authority for temples in the region, regarding their decisions to allow film shoots in sacred spaces.