An accident on the set of upcoming film of director Pa Ranjith has led to serious legal action. Stunt performer SM Raju lost his life while shooting an action sequence in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, and now the police have filed a case against the filmmaker and key members of his crew.
The incident happened on Sunday during the filming of a stunt scene for a movie starring actor Arya. The shoot was managed by Neelam Productions, a company closely associated with Ranjith.
Something went terribly wrong during one of the stunt routines. SM Raju, an experienced stuntman, was seriously injured on the spot. He was immediately rushed to the Nagapattinam Government Medical College Hospital. But doctors declared him brought dead.
Initially, the police registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to general negligence. However, after further investigation and reviewing the available evidence, the charges have now been made more severe.
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The Keelaiyur police have booked director Pa Ranjith, stunt choreographer Rajkamal, Neelam Productions, and crew member Prabhakaran under multiple sections of the BNS Act.
The revised charges include: Section 289: Negligent conduct likely to endanger human life, Section 125: Abetment of an offence, and Section 106(1): Culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Raju’s body was handed over to his family after a postmortem examination. His sudden death has sent shockwaves through the Tamil film industry, especially among the stunt and action community, who have long demanded better safety protocols on sets.
Neelam Productions and director Pa Ranjith have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident or the police action. The investigation is ongoing.