A heart-wrenching accident on the sets of Kantara: Chapter-1 has triggered national outrage, and the film industry is seeking transparency, accountability, and justice.
Industry sources have raised serious questions as AICWA has sought a high-level investigation into the death of junior artist M F Kapil while working on the Kantara Chapter-1 shoot.
A Drowning or Something More? The Incident That Shook the Set
On May 6, 2025, tragedy hit in the Souparnika River near Kollur, Karnataka, when M F Kapil, a 33-year-old junior artist from Kerala’s Vaikom, reportedly drowned while swimming during a break at shoot for Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited prequel Kantara: Chapter-1. Kapil was associated with the production team of the highly anticipated prequel to the 2022 blockbuster film Kantara.
Though the production house initially stated that Kapil died of accidental drowning, the nature of the incident raised alarm, particularly among the workers’ unions and advocacy groups in the film industry.
AICWA Demands Probe, FIR, and Compensation
In a stridently-worded release, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) called for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a high-level, unbiased probe. The association demanded a First Information Report (FIR) be filed against Rishab Shetty, producer and owner of the production company behind the movie.
Moreover, the AICWA has called for a compensation of ₹1 crore to Kapil’s bereaved family, citing that the incident raises serious questions about on-set safety and worker well-being.
“We feel such incidents are usually misrepresented, and the actual cause of death gets lost in the haze of general statements,” AICWA said in an X post.
Recurring Tragedies: Industry Accuses Producers of Negligence
This is not an isolated incident. The AICWA highlighted a worrying trend of deaths on film sets being underreported or misrepresented. They referred to recent tragedies such as the loss of technicians on the sets of “Indian 2” and “Sardar 2”, and an accident involving 20 junior artists when they were involved in a bus crash last November.
The producers have been accused by the association of “playing down the gravity of such incidents,” frequently with scant or no recourse. In most instances, say they, the whistleblowers are silenced, while families are deprived of answers and justice.
Kantara Chapter-1: A Film Now Tainted with Controversy
The upcoming Kannada-language epic Kantara: Chapter-1, which was initially scheduled for release on October 2, 2025, had already been under rumor of delay. Now, with this accident over its head shrouding its production, public interest has been diverted from the film’s creative potential to its moral practices.
Rishab Shetty, who had gained praise for the original Kantara’s mythological and cultural narrative, has now found himself in the eye of the storm, not for his filmmaking, but for his duty of care towards the crew and openness.
Call for Systemic Change in Indian Cinema
The AICWA ended its statement with a clarion call: no box office success at the expense of human life. They stressed the imperative need for improved safety measures, periodic audits, and legal enforcement of working conditions on film sets nationwide.
As the investigation continues, the cause of Kapil’s death remains unclear. But one thing is certain: This tragedy has sparked a much-needed discussion about how the Indian film industry treats its most vulnerable workers — and if that can be improved.
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