Telugu movie shooting team vacates Belur Chennakeshava temple 

Team Udayavani, Feb 18, 2017, 2:42 PM IST

Hassan: A movie making team has stopped shooting for Telugu movie ‘DJ’ in which Allu Arjun is playing a major role at Belur Chennakeshava temple and vacated the spot on Friday night following an order from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and protests by the locals for violating the rules and regulation to be followed while shooting the scenes for a cinema at a heritage site, the sources said. According to the sources, the movie team has vacated the location as they have violated the rules to be followed while shooting a film at a heritage site which has archaeological significance.

A symbol of Karnataka’s rich heritage Belur Chennakeshava temple was turned into a Shiva temple here on Friday after DJ Telugu movie team installed an idol of Shiva for shooting within the compound wall of the temple which caused for a controversy and subsequently it was removed by the shooting team from the temple premises following protests by the locals and tourists who arrived to visit the temple, the sources said. 

Controversy was erupted on Thursday and Friday as the movie team shut the door of the temple without allowing the visitors to visit the temple. The move was questioned by the locals. Reacting to the questions raised, the movie team said that the shooting is being carried out after obtaining necessary permission from district administration and ASI by remitting shooting fee fixed by ASI.

Meanwhile, the locals and tourists have objected the luxurious movie set installed by the shooting team which spoils divinity, purity of the temple. The protesters also noted that the shooting is being carried out violating the norms should be followed while shooting at the places have historical significance.