Bharathiraja, veteran Tamil actor-filmmaker, died due to an age-related illness in Chennai. He was 84. The news of his demise has left the film fraternity in mourning, with tributes pouring in on social media from fans and celebrities.
More details regarding his death are awaited. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Janani. His son Manoj tragically passed away last year following a cardiac arrest.
For the unversed, Bharathiraja made his directorial debut with the 1977 Tamil film 16 Vayathinile, which starred Sridevi, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth. The film received recognition and even bagged several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer, Filmfare Awards South, and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Film, among others.
Tributes pour in following Bharathiraja’s death
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar expressed her grief over Bharathiraja’s demise on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Devastated to know that our most beloved, loved and respected Director, the legendary #BharathiRaaja avl is no longer with us. His demise is a gloomy cloud in tamil cinema. His films have been bench marks and shall continue to be the actual school of film making. He leaves behind a huge legacy for every cinema lover. He always said let’s do a film with me in 2 pigtails. That shall remain an unfulfilled dream. Will miss you a lot Sir. Rest in peace. Om Shanti”
Actor Sibi Sathyaraj expressed grief over the passing of veteran filmmaker-actor Bharathiraja and paid tribute to him. In a post on X, he wrote,”Extremely saddened to hear about the passing of #Bharathiraja sir. Sir, your films were a true textbook on the language of filmmaking. You brought the soul of rural Tamil Nadu to the screen and changed the course of Tamil cinema forever. A monumental loss to cinema. Rest in peace, dear sir.”
Actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also expressed grief over the passing of Bharathiraja on his X handle. He wrote, “May peace be granted to the soul of Shri Bharathiraja garu. I am saddened to hear that the renowned director Shri Bharathiraja garu has passed away. I pray to God that his soul may rest in peace. Shri Bharathiraja garu has left his unique mark on Tamil and Telugu films. His style is distinctive in depicting rural backdrops, village life, family bonds, and the attractions faced by teenagers. The film ‘Seethakoka Chiluka,’ which he directed in Telugu, remains watchable even today. The songs and scenes in that film captivated audiences. He crafted the film ‘Aradhana’ with Annayya Shri Chiranjeevi garu. In it, the song ‘Are Emaindi…’ gained immense popularity. Beyond tender love and sentiment-driven stories, he also enthralled audiences with thrillers like ‘Erra Gulabi’ and ‘Tick Tick Tick.’ I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Shri Bharathiraja garu.”
In April, the veteran director-actor was discharged from the hospital after undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness.
Also Read: Bharathiraja dies at 84: Kallukkul Eeram to 16 Vayathinile, a look at his illustrious filmography
