Madras: Stuntmen Anbu and Arivu talk about the slick pre-interval chase scene

If you watched Madras, you must have surely enjoyed the nail-biting pre-interval chase sequence involving Karthi (Kaali) and Kalaiarasan (Anbu) in the film. Anbu and Arivu, the duo who made their debut have explained their preparation and the conceptualisation of the scene. Twin brothers Anbu and Arivu assisted Anal Arasu in Karthi’s Naan Mahaan Alla and impressed by their work, they’re given a chance in Madras. “Unlike many choreographers who begin work after learning about the fight sequences a day or two before the actual shoot, we wanted to read the script weeks in advance. We are able to understand the hero’s weaknesses and strengths, and adapt the action to suit his behaviour,” says Anbu.

Anbu and Arivu have already choreographed stunts for over 30 Malayalam films and 2 Hindi films and were eagerly awaiting their Tamil debut before finding a break in Madras. “Ranjith narrated the scene and its objective in one line. Ten-fifteen days before the shoot was scheduled, we took a walk around the location in Sathyamurthy Nagar, Vyasarpadi. We noticed the parked bicycles, the roadside vessels, men sleeping in autorickshaws, a random function occurring at night… we took in the ambience and tried to incorporate these into the sequence as naturally as possible,” say the twins in their interview to daily.

Anbu and Arivu are currently working on Seenu Ramasamy’s Idam Porul Eval and have also signed three more films, two of which are directed by AR Murugadoss’s assistants.