On Sunday, July 13, 2025, stuntman Mohan Raj, also known as SM Raju, passed away after an accident took place while performing a stunt on the sets of Pa Ranjith's film Vettuvam. The filmmaker on Tuesday took to X (Twitter) to share a condolence note for SM Raju, and also revealed that they had followed the protocol.
He tweeted, "On the morning of 13th July, we lost unexpectedly a talented stunt artist and a long time colleague Mr. Mohan Raj on the sets of our film “Vettuvam” in 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 day that started out with detailed planning, caution, clarity in execution, prayers and all our good will, 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 heart break (sic)."
'Followed Every Protocol, Every Detail': Pa Ranjith
Pa Ranjith further in the note revealed that they relied on their stunt director Dilip Subbarayan and followed every protocol that was required to be safe.
He wrote, "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 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 that was needed to make this safe. That inspite of all of 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 (sic)."
The filmmaker concluded, "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 (sic)."
Pa Ranjith Booked For Culpable Homicide
Meanwhile, reportedly, PA Ranjith, along with three others have been booked for negligence and culpable homicide by the Keelaiyur police in Tamil Nadu. According to reports, the four accused have now been booked under Sections 289 (Negligent conduct), 125 (Abetment of an offence), and 106(1) (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS Act.
