Film shooting at Angamaly Taluk Hospital: Kerala Human Rights Commission seeks explanation

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Human Rights Commission has taken suo moto cognizance of a controversy arising from a movie shoot in the emergency department of Angamaly Taluk Hospital in Ernakulam after many patients complained of inconvenience.

The film, titled 'Painkili' and produced by Fahadh Faasil, began shooting at 9 PM at the hospital.

According to an ANI report, the Human Rights Commission has demanded an explanation within seven days from those who granted permission for the shoot in the government hospital's emergency department.

According to the commission, the emergency room's lights were dimmed, and restrictions were imposed during the shoot. Around 50 people, including actors, were present in the emergency room. Reports claim that the people who came with emergency medical problems could not even enter the premises because of the filming.

"It is understood that filming continued even as doctors were treating patients. The limited space in the emergency department exacerbated the situation. A person accompanying a critically ill patient was unable to enter the emergency department. Access through the main gate was blocked, and the crew instructed patients and bystanders to remain quiet during filming. The shoot has been ongoing for two days," the commission said, news agency ANI reported.

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, TOI reports.

Health Minister Veena George has sought an explanation from the Director of the Health Department regarding the incident.