The makers released a statement, assuring to stand with Ezhumalai's family in this time of grief. The filming came to a halt.
Published Jul 17, 2024 | 2:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2024 | 3:48 PM
Stuntman Ezhumalai, who died in an accident on the sets of 'Sardar 2'. (X)
A stuntman named Ezhumalai died in an accident on Tuesday, 16 July, during the filming of Karthi and director PS Mithran’s Sardar 2.
According to the police, Ezhumalai, aged 54, fell from a 20 feet rostrum, resulting in a serious head injury. Though he was rushed to the nearby hospital, the stunt master succumbed to internal bleeding at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday.
The Virugambakkam police are investigating the accident on Sardar 2 sets. Meanwhile, the shooting of Sardar 2 has been halted.
On 17 July, the production house (Prince Pictures) issued an official statement where they said the team extends its sincerest condolences to Ezhumalai’s family and stands with them in this time of grief.
In the statement, the makers said the accident happened on Sardar 2 sets after the team performed an action sequence and were about to wrap up the shooting.
Sardar 2 was officially launched with a pooja ceremony on 12 July in Chennai. Director PS Mithran, actor Karthi, the crew, and veteran actor Sivakumar attended the event. The shooting commenced on 15 July at LV Prasad Studios in Saligramam, Chennai.
Press release. pic.twitter.com/pP6GCSijG1
— Prince Pictures (@Prince_Pictures) July 17, 2024
Produced by S Lakshman Kumar under Prince Pictures, Sardar 2 is the sequel to the 2022 hit Sardar. It featured Karthi, Raashii Khanna, Rajisha Vijayan, Rithvik, Munishkanth, Balaji Sakthivel, Yugi Sethu, Chunky Pandey, and Laila in prominent roles.
Simran was originally slated for the role, which eventually went to Laila somehow.
Actor SJ Suryah joined the cast of Sardar 2 on 16 July, though he wasn’t in the original film. The returning cast for the sequel has yet to be announced.
While GV Prakash Kumar scored the music for the first part, Yuvan Shankar Raja is composing for Sardar 2. George C Williams returns as cinematographer, and Vijay Velukutty replaces Ruben as the editor.
Sardar, a spy action thriller, starred Karthi in dual roles as father and son. The plot follows a cop working to overcome the stigma of being a national traitor’s son, who uncovers his father’s secrets and a larger conspiracy.
The film revolved around a national project called ‘One Nation, One Pipeline,’ aiming to connect all water bodies in India, turning this vital resource into a lucrative commodity controlled by private entities.
Mithran’s script was densely packed with ideas, leaving little room for any to fully develop. The film explores themes of capitalism, environmental exploitation, espionage, and India’s geopolitical dynamics, and delivers messages that some viewers found intrusive and excessively lengthy, resembling a pamphlet rather than a cinematic experience.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
