'KGF Chapter 2': Shooting halted after court order

kgf-shoot (File) KGF is the site of now defunct gold mines | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

Shooting of the big budget Kannada film KGF Chapter 2, sequel to KGF Chapter 1, has been halted following interim order by the second additional civil and JMFC court in Kolar Gold Fields.

In an original suit filed by local resident N. Srinivas, it was alleged that the shooting of the movie caused environmental damage due to the set and crew movements at cyanide hills in Kolar Gold Fields in Kolar District.

KGF is the site of now defunct gold mines. Cyanide hills is the place where remains of the gold ore extract was dumped, and it creates a surrealist landscape which attracts movie makers from across the country. Popular Tamil number Manmatha Rasaa from the 2003 Kollywood movie Thiruda Thirudi was shot at Cyanide hills.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 23.

Srinivas was not available for comments as his phones were switched off when THE WEEK tried to reach out to him.

An official spokesperson for the movie said, “The shooting is almost done and we had only one day left to finish the shooting,” adding, “The complaint was related to one area, and hence production is not affected”

According to market observers, KGF Chapter 1 was the costliest film produced in Kannada movie industry and it was a box office hit. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur and directed by Prashanth Neel, the movie features Yash in the lead role.