Madurai: Accidents during Tamil film shoots are being reported with worrying frequency, putting the safety of supporting actors, stunt performers and technical crew under scrutiny.
Recent incidents cited by film workers include a cylinder blast on the set of actor-director S.J. Suryah’s upcoming film Killer, in which a worker died. Earlier, a crane collapse during director Shankar’s Indian 2 shoot in 2020 killed three people. In 2022, stunt performer Suresh died after falling from around 15 feet while filming a train-sequence for Vetrimaaran’s Viduthalai.
The list also includes the 2023 death of lightman Shanmugam, who was electrocuted during the shoot of Agaram Colony, directed by Gopi Nainar. Last year, stunt performer Mohanraj died after a fall while attempting a car-jump sequence for director Pa. Ranjith’s Vettuvam. Workers say these cases show that safety measures are still not being implemented consistently across sets.
Supporting actors said many locations lack even basic first-aid facilities. They pointed to high-mounted lighting rigs and technicians working close to high-power electrical equipment, adding that medical help is often arranged only after major accidents. As daily-wage workers, they said they are frequently forced to bear medical expenses and income loss themselves.
They contrasted this with Hollywood practices, where stunt sequences are rehearsed for days and emergency medical teams remain on standby, and where filming cannot proceed without meeting safety standards. In India, they noted, there is no separate law for stunt performers, and safety and compensation are often settled through agreements between unions and producers. Film workers have urged Chief Minister Vijay, who has a film background, to prioritise measures to protect artists and crew.
