A tragic on-set accident has claimed the life of a 25-year-old technician working on the sets of SJ Suryah's upcoming film Killer, highlighting the growing safety concerns in the Tamil film industry. The incident occurred early in the morning when a carbon dioxide cylinder exploded during the filming of a bomb blast sequence at Binny Mills.
Details of the Incident
The deceased, identified as Madhan, was a native of Madurai residing in Porur. He was killed instantly when the cylinder exploded while the crew was preparing for a pre-climax stunt scene. Three other crew members—Sakthivel, Surya, and Dinakaran—sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.
According to a source close to the production, the team had been filming the bomb blast sequence for the past three nights. Stunt Silva was handling the action choreography, and Madhan was part of a team hired specifically for the blast effects. The mishap occurred at around 5:30 am while the team was working on the cylinders. SJ Suryah was present at the location at the time of the accident.
Police Action
A police official from the P2 Otteri Police Station confirmed that two individuals have been arrested in connection with the accident. Ramu, a production manager, and Arumugam, a special effects in-charge, have been booked under BNS Section 106 (causing death by negligence). Further investigation is underway.
Rising Toll of On-Set Accidents
This tragedy has once again brought the focus back on safety measures on film sets. Since 2020, at least seven lives have been lost due to on-set accidents in the Tamil film industry. Some notable incidents include:
- May 14, 2026: A 28-year-old crew member, Karthikeyan, died of electrocution after coming into contact with a live wire on the set of Rajinikanth's Jailer 2.
- July 13, 2025: Stuntman SM Raju died on the spot while performing a stunt for Pa Ranjith's multi-starrer Vettuvam.
- July 16, 2024: Stuntman Ezhumalai fell from a 20-foot rostrum during the shoot of Sardar 2 and succumbed to injuries.
- December 3, 2022: Stunt master Suresh died while demonstrating a stunt despite safety precautions on the set of Vetri Maaran's Viduthalai: Part 1.
- February 19, 2020: A crane carrying a heavy flashlight fell during the shoot of Indian 2, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and several injuries.
The industry is now facing renewed calls for stricter safety protocols to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
