On February 19 night, a crane carrying a heavy-duty light at EVP Film City, Poonamallee, Chennai, where the team of Kamal Haasan starrer Indian 2 was shooting, came crashing down, causing the death of three and injuries to nine others. Assistant Director Krishna (34), Production Assistant Madhu (29), and Art Assistant Chandran (60) had died with nine others injured severely.
Read: Accident In ‘Indian 2’ Sets Leaves 3 Dead; 9 Injured
While the rest of the crew and actors Kamal Haasan and Kajal Aggarwal, costume designer Amritha Ram, and director Shankar had missed the accident by a few seconds, the deceased and injured crew members happened to be sitting right underneath the crane and were preparing for a shot.
Read: Wish It Was On Me: Shankar On ‘Indian 2’ Crane Accident
#KamalHaasan : I have seen many accidents in my life but today’s accident is the most horrific. I have lost three colleagues. More than my pain the grief of their family will be manifold. I take part in their anguish, as one of them. My deepest condolences to them.#indian2
— Silverscreen.in (@silverscreenin) February 19, 2020
The shocking incident left the entire team devastated with Kamal Haasan and Shankar offering Rs1 crore to the bereaved families and production house Lyca Productions offering two crores for the bereaved and injured’s families.
Read: Kamal Haasan Offers Rs 1 Crore Aid To Kin Of Deceased In ‘Indian 2’ Accident
On Thursday, Kamal Haasan, director Shankar, and RK Selvamani, president of the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) handed over the financial aid to the families of the deceased at the FEFSI office, Vadapalani.
Late art assistant SR Chandran’s wife Radha, production assistant Madhu’s father Malakondaiah, assistant director Krishna’s wife Amitha, and lightman Ramarajan’s sister received the aid from the team. The money was handed over in the presence of president RK Selvamani, general secretary Angamuthu Shanmugam, treasurer BN Swaminathan, and the various vice presidents and joint secretaries.
#Fefsi press meet Mr #Kamalhasan
Director #Shankar #RKSelvamani pic.twitter.com/WnzHCJJaFG— Diamond Babu (@idiamondbabu) August 6, 2020
Here is the official statement from FEFSI.
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Earlier, Kamal Haasan had said in a statement, “This amount is not enough for those who have lost their loved ones. Accidents do not differentiate between rich and poor. I don’t want to discuss this today, but I would have also joined them (pointing inside the hospital). The actress and I were very close. Just four seconds before that the director walked ahead. Every single employee in the film industry must have insurance. What is the point of movies making 100, 200 crores if our people don’t have safety and insurance?”.
He added, “There are accidents waiting to happen and we should make sure they don’t happen. After an accident, everyone says precautions should’ve been taken. I am not looking at this as an accident that happened in Lyca Productions but in my own family.”
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Recently, when the Tamil Nadu government allowed the resumption of post-production activities for films and TV under strict guidelines, Indian 2 was one of the first films to begin with work. While the team is yet to wrap up the shoot, they have already begun editing the film.
Read: Tamil Nadu Government To Allow Resumption Of Post-Production Activities From May 11
Post Production works to be Resumed from Tomorrow. #Master #Doctor #Indian2 #Bhoomi #Chakra #Raangi
Official statement from FEFSI pic.twitter.com/vgaDHMO6N3
— Cinepuram (@cinepuram) May 11, 2020
