Masters blame lack of safety for Kannada actors' death

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stunt masters are stunned by the freak accident that resulted in the death of two Kannada actors while performing for a film near Bengaluru on Monday. Popular stunt directors Mafia Sasi, 56, and Jolly Bastian, 48, feel the accident could have been averted by taking safety precautions. Mafia Sasi, who works in almost all South Indian languages and Bollywood, and Jolly Bastian, who is prominent in Kannada films, told DC that speed boats and life jackets would have saved the lives of Anil and Uday who jumped from a helicopter into the Thippagondanahalli reservoir while shooting for Masti Gudi.

One body was recovered on Tuesday. Mafia Sasi aka Sasidharan, who started his career as an actor and later became a stunt director, was busy with the shooting of Major Ravi's '1970 Beyond the Borders' in Rajasthan when he heard of the accident. "There are risks involved in filming dare-devil scenes. "If I were the stunt director of the Kannada film, I would have ensured speed boats on all the four sides. When they jump from the helicopter, the rescue team in the speed boats would come to their rescue. It's very dangerous to shoot amidst fire and water as anything can happen," said Mafia Sasi. 

Mafia Sasi, hailing from Kannur Chirakkal, recalled how Mohanlal jumped into the sea while filming 'Mahasamudram.' He had taken a trial first by sending another dupe to the sea. "Last week, on the sets of 'Ayaal Jeevichirippundu,' I directed a fight scene where a car jumps into the water. I ensured that several speed boats were anchored in the sea so that in case of an accident, the actors could be pulled to safety," added Mafia Sasi who rose to fame as stunt director in 'Pappayudey Swantham Appoos.'

Jolly Bastian, who is based in Bengaluru, told DC that the Kannada stuntmen should have been provided with belt life jackets, which are worn around the waist. They would not have been visible unlike a vest, and would have kept them afloat. "A rope could also have been put out for all the three to hold on to. The rope could have been erased digitally in post-production. They had a boat, which did not start. Had it started, the mishap could have been averted," he said.