Tragedy struck the shooting of Kannada film “Maasti Gudi” when two actors drowned after jumping into Tippagondanahalli lake near Bengaluru from a helicopter. The incident on Monday bears an eerie resemblance to an accident that took place nearly 36 years ago, when Malayalam superstar Jayan was killed in a helicopter stunt in 1980.
Also Read: Minutes Before Deadly Stunt, Kannada Actor Said He Can’t Swim Well
Widely recognized as Malayalam cinema’s first action hero, superstar Jayan died in a helicopter stunt gone awry during the shooting of “Kolilakkam” on 16 November 1980. He was just 41.
Mathrubhumi quotes Kalliyoor Shashi, production executive, as saying that the fatal scene wherein Jayan was shown trying to pursue and capture the villain played by Balan K Nair, who was trying to escape in a helicopter had already been shot three times.
It was Jayan who reportedly insisted on one more take, which ironically proved to be his last. Unlike the previous three shots, Jayan tried to entwine his leg on the helicopter skid from a moving motorbike, so as to enable him to climb up and get hold of the villain. Though Balan did try to dissuade Jayan from attempting such a risky move, the latter went ahead with the manoeuvre.
This however tilted all the weight to one side, making the helicopter lose its balance and crash onto the Sholavaram air strip at Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu. While the pilot and Balan fell out from the sides, Jayan unfortunately was not that lucky.
He was grievously injured in the fall, and though he was soon rushed to hospital and subjected to emergency surgery, his life could not be saved.
(This piece has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)