The Drama troupe of 'Chayamukhi' in which Mohanlal and Mukesh play the lead roles, met with an accident on Monday at Krishnagiri district in TamilNadu. The troupe was returning to Kerala in a volvo bus after staging the Sanskrit play 'Chayamukhi' in Bangalore. Mohanlal and Mukesh were not in the bus as they had stayed back in Bangalore after the play on the night of January 25. One person was killed and 5 injured in the accident.

The troupe with about 40 people were travelling by bus, which overturned and the Kathakali artiste and son of the late Arakunnam Chelat Ramdas, Elamakkara Ranjith, 35, died. Father of Ranjith is a relative of the former Chief Minister of Kerala, C. Achutha Menon. The accident occurred at the Dharmapuri bypass, about 150 km from Salem. Artistes Idavela Babu, Sneha, Aparna, Gopala Krishnan and Mukundan were injured as well and admitted to the Nathan Hospital in Salem. The condition of the injured is not serious.

Ranjith, a native of Chottanikkara, Ernakulum and a Kathakali performer had joined the troupe recently. He was a student from the Kerala Kalamandalam, famous school for classical arts in the state. The injured, including Aparna Nair (lead actress in the play), were admitted to a local hospital. Chayamukhi is produced by Kalidas Visual Magic, a production house promoted by Mohanlal.