Director Pa Ranjith on stuntman SM Raju's death on his film's set: 'We followed every protocol...'

Pa Ranjith has been booked in stuntman Raju's death

Popular stuntman SM Raju died on Sunday, July 13, while performing a high-risk car toppling stunt on the sets of Arya’s upcoming film. The accident sparked security concerns with the filmmaker Pa Ranjith facing legal troubles.

Following the accident, Ranjith, along with three others, have been booked by the Keelaiyur police. However, the filmmaker has recently issued an official statement on behalf of his team following the tragic accident on the set.

Ranjith took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and detailed the accident while also mourning the loss of the stuntman. The statement reads, “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.”

NEELAM PRODUCTIONS
CONDOLENCE NOTE

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… pic.twitter.com/No81kpeLDl

— pa.ranjith (@beemji) July 15, 2025

He further noted in the statement that the crew started their day with detailed planning, just like every film set, but ended up in an unexpected death.

He penned, “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.”

“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,” he added.

Ranjith continued, “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.”

He concluded his statement by mourning the death of the stuntman Raju and wrote, “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.”

Also Read: Stuntman Raju dies performing car stunt on Arya’s film set, actor Vishal pays tribute

Videos from the car crash are going viral on the internet. Raju was rushed to the Nagapattinam Government Medical College Hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.

The police are currently investigating the accident and have booked the film’s team under Sections 289 (Negligent conduct), 125 (Abetment of an offence), and 106(1) (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS Act.