n a deeply tragic turn of events, veteran stuntman S. Mohanraj, also known as S. M. Raju (52), passed away on July 13, while performing a high-risk car stunt on the sets of director Pa Ranjith’s upcoming film ‘Vettuvam’ near Nagapattinam.
Raju was reportedly performing a complex car-toppling sequence when the vehicle spun in the air and toppled, leading to fatal internal injuries.
Following the incident, a case has been filed against director Pa Ranjith and three other crew members – stunt choreographer Vinoth, Neelam Productions’ manager Rajkamal, and car owner Prabhakaran – on charges of causing death by negligence.
Authorities stated that while general permission for filming was obtained, specific authorisation or approval for the high-risk stunt scene was not secured.
The unfortunate incident has sent shockwaves across the film industry, reigniting crucial conversations about safety protocols and the welfare of stunt artists on sets.
