A major fire reportedly broke out on the sets of Idly Kadai, actor Dhanush’s upcoming directorial venture, in Anupapatti village near Andipatti in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the shooting had been temporarily halted at the location.

The elaborate set — a street filled with shops and houses — had been constructed for the film’s shoot and had remained intact after filming was shifted to a different location a few days ago. Plans were in place to resume shooting soon, which made the fire all the more alarming.

The blaze, reportedly fuelled by strong winds, spread quickly through the flammable materials used in the set’s construction. Local residents noticed the fire and immediately alerted the Andipatti Fire Department. Firefighters, along with local police, rushed to the scene and battled the flames for over an hour.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Andipatti police.

Idly Kadai marks Dhanush’s fourth directorial after Pa Paandi, Raayan, and Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam. The film stars Nithya Menen as the female lead and also features veteran actors Arun Vijay, Rajkiran, and Samuthirakani in key roles.

While much of the plot and full cast details are still being kept under wraps, an old poster shared by Dhanush hints at his role in the film — he appears to play the owner of a humble eatery named Sivanesan Idly Kadai.

Idly Kadai marks another collaboration between Dhanush and composer GV Prakash Kumar, following their recent projects Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam, Vaathi, and Captain Miller. The film’s technical crew includes cinematographer Kiran Koushik, editor Prasanna GK, and production designer Jacki.

The film is being jointly produced by Dawn Pictures, Red Giant Movies, and Wunderbar Films. Aakash Baskaran and Dhanush serve as producers, with Sreyas Srinivasan on board as the executive producer. The film is slated to hit theatres in October.