No abuse of power by Sumalatha in shooting Abishek's film at sugar factory: Team Bad Manners

There was much fanfare when Abishek Ambareesh’s new film, Bad Manners, got underway recently. But within days, the project courted controversy, when a farmers’ organisation alleged that actress-and-Member of Parliament Sumalatha Ambareesh misused her position to allocate

permission

for her son’s film to be shot at the

Mysugar Factory

in

Mandya

. While Sumalatha rubbished the allegations, the film’s producer Sudhir KM adds, “I was an executive producer before I turned independent producer, so I know the procedures to be followed to get permission for shoots. The Mysore Sugar Company Limited has allowed us to shoot from January 15 to January 27 in and around the Mysugar factory, provided all pandemic safety protocol is followed. Sumalatha did not have to use her clout to get us permission. In fact, she got to know about the film shoot two days before the muhurtha. Strangely enough,

Bad Manners

is not the first movie to be shot here. It was used as a location for

Bharjari

earlier and, more recently, the team of

Black and White

also shot at Mysugar factory, so the commotion surrounding Bad Manners is uncalled for.”
Speaking to the media earlier, Sumalatha has been quoted as saying, “These are baseless allegations. The team got the necessary permission from the district administration. Film shoots will aid the growth of the local economy and tourism.”