Pa Ranjith writes about the devastating loss of stuntman SM Raju during Vettuvam shooting: ‘We followed every protocol necessary to make this safe…'

Time of India

4 days ago

A tragic accident on the sets of Pa Ranjith's upcoming movie Vettuvam has led to the untimely demise of stunt artist
. The incident occurred on July 13 in Nagapattinam during the filming of a high-intensity action scene involving multiple four-wheeler vehicles.
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The 52-year-old collapsed while performing the stunt behind the wheel, and crew members immediately rushed him to hospital. However, he was declared brought dead.
Stuntman SM Raju dies on 'Vettuvam' set| FIR filed against Director Pa Ranjith
Filmmaker Pa Ranjith has now taken to his social media account to express his grief and pay tribute to
.
'On the morning of 13th July, we unexpectedly lost a talented stunt artist and a long-time colleague, Mr Mohan Raj, on the sets of our film Vettuvam in the Nagapattinam district of Tamizh Nadu.
Our heart is broken for his wife, children, family, and all who knew and loved Mohan Raj Anna as a colleague and a friend.'
A Veteran Respected for His Craft
He further shared that the day began with extensive safety preparations, typical of such sequences: 'A day that started out with detailed planning, caution, clarity in execution, prayers, and all our goodwill—as it does on every film set that stages crash sequences—ended up in his unexpected death.
This has sent us all into shock and heartbreak.'
Remembered as More Than Just a Stunt Artist
The Thangalaan director recalled Raju's professional legacy and the respect he commanded in the film industry:
'Mohan Raj Anna was valued and respected by his colleagues in the stunt team and all of us in the crew. He was a veteran in performing stunts—someone whose planning, clarity, and execution we all relied on. We relied on the expertise of our Stunt Director Dilip Subbarayan and followed every protocol, every detail necessary to make this safe.
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That in spite of all our preparations and precautions, we ended up losing a man who had unparalleled experience and achievements—who made his family, colleagues, and directors proud with the quality of his work—has affected us deeply.
He will have our respect, love, and adoration always.'
Ranjith further noted that Raju would be remembered not only for his cinematic contributions but also for the person he was: 'This death is devastating. We deeply mourn the loss of Mohan Raj Anna—a husband, father, an incredible stunt artist, and a graceful human being. He wanted to be remembered for his work as a fabulous stunt artist, and that's how he will always stay in our memory.'
Industry Reacts to the Tragic Loss
The incident has sparked conversations around on-set safety, and many of the big names in the industry, including Prithviraj Sukumaran, have shared a heart-wrenching note on Raju's demise.