Actor Vishal, stunt choreographer Silva condole ‘Vettuvam’ stunt artist Mohanraj’s death-OxBig News Network

Tamil actor Vishal on Sunday (July 13) extended his condolences to the family of stuntman Mohanraj, who tragically passed away while performing a stunt sequence during the shooting of director Pa Ranjith’s upcoming film Vettuvam. The makers are yet to release an official statement.

Taking to his X handle, Vishal expressed his condolences, calling Mohanraj “brave” person.

Popular stunt choreographer Silva also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased. “One of our great car jumping stunt artist, S M Raju, died today while doing car stunts. Our stunt union and Indian film industry will be missing him (sic),” he wrote on Instagram

Screengrab of Silva’s Instagram post

Mohanraj, 52, son of Selvaraj, hailed from Poongandam in Kancheepuram district. He was working as a stunt coordinator for the film Vettuvam, directed and produced by Pa Ranjith. The shoot had been underway in Alappakudi near Vizhunthamavadi village, in Keelaiyur police station limits since Thursday (July 10, 2025).

The stunt trainer allegedly died during a car-toppling sequence for the film starring Arya. Around 10.40 a.m, Mohanraj reportedly experienced health complications during filming, after which he was rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital at Orathur where doctors declared him brought dead.

Ranjith’s Vettuvam stars Arya in the lead. According to reports, the film also features Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashok Selvan and Dinesh among others. Earlier, Ranjith told PTI that his film revolves around a notorious gangster, Cholan, a modern-day Robin Hood, who establishes his control over the Ponni region of Tamil Nadu. As he fights to protect his people, he makes many enemies but also legions of supporters who swear by him. When his rivals realise that Cholan is too powerful for them, they harness the power of the state in an attempt to bring him down.

“The film is the story of an ordinary daily wage labourer’s rise to a position of power,” says Ranjith. “The deeper question that ‘Vettuvam’ will address hinges on power and on how historically those that wield power perpetuate a sense of inferiority and push people to the margins,” the filmmaker had revealed. According to news reports, the project is said to have a series sequel in development as well.

It is to be noted that earlier this year, a stunt artist passed away on the sets of actor Karthi’s film Sardar 2. S Ezhumalai, 54, a resident of New Washermenpet, was performing a stunt without any safety equipment for the Tamil film at LV Prasad studio, Chennai, when the tragedy struck. The film, which reunites Karthi with director PS Mithran, after the success of Sardar, is produced by Prince Pictures.

(With inputs from PTI)