Latest news with #S.Mohanraj
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
A life on the line: South Indian stunt artists battle danger without a safety net
He was the original action hero, a man who dared to do what no one else would. On November 16, 1980, Malayalam superstar Jayan strapped himself to a dream—and a helicopter. While shooting the climax of Kolilakkam in Sholavaram near Chennai, he leapt from a moving motorcycle onto a hovering Bell 47. The scene was already in the can, but Jayan, ever the perfectionist, wanted a retake. What followed was horror: the helicopter spun out of control and crashed. Jayan was killed instantly. He was 41. More than four decades later, the story repeats itself—this time in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. On July 13, 2025, S. Mohanraj, known in the industry as SM Raju, one of Tamil cinema's seasoned stunt masters, died performing a high-speed car stunt for director Pa Ranjith's upcoming film Vettuvam. The vehicle overturned during filming. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. These aren't isolated tragedies. Last year, a car chase gone wrong during the filming of Bromance left actors Arjun Ashokan and Sangeet Prathap injured, prompting a Motor Vehicles Department case for overspeeding. In 2016, two stuntmen drowned during the shoot of Masti Gudi, a Kannada film. The two—Uday Raghav and Anil Kumar—jumped from a helicopter into a reservoir without life jackets. They drowned. The film's lead actor, who wore a life jacket, survived.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stuntman SM Raju dies on 'Vettuvam' set
A tragic accident on the set of Pa Ranjith's upcoming Tamil film 'Vettuvam' has claimed the life of veteran stuntman S. Mohanraj aka SM Raju, who died performing a high-risk car-toppling stunt near Nagapattinam on July 13. The vehicle crashed after launching off a ramp, and despite immediate medical care, he passed away at the local hospital. The police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita naming director Pa Ranjith, stunt choreographer, production manager and the car's owner Prabhakaran. In an official statement, Ranjith expressed shock and grief, insisting all safety protocols were followed. Read More
