Veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja passes away at 84 in Chennai

CHENNAI: Veteran filmmaker and actor Bharathiraja, one of the most influential figures in Tamil cinema, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday, June 10. He was 84.

The celebrated director had been battling health issues for several months. According to sources close to the family, Bharathiraja had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments and respiratory complications, including recurring breathing difficulties and a lung infection.

The family has not released an official statement detailing the exact cause of death. Bharathiraja was admitted to a Chennai hospital after experiencing breathing problems last year. Though doctors had then stated that he was responding well to treatment, his condition reportedly remained delicate.

The veteran filmmaker was deeply affected by the death of his son, actor-director Manoj Bharathiraja, who died following a cardiac arrest at the age of 48 last year.

Born in 1941, Bharathiraja revolutionised Tamil cinema by taking stories out of studio sets and into real villages, bringing a new sense of realism to the screen. His debut film, 16 Vayathinile (1977), is regarded as a landmark in Tamil cinema and paved the way for a new era of filmmaking.

Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he directed several acclaimed films, including Sigappu Rojakkal, Mudhal Mariyadhai, Vedham Pudhithu and Kizhakku Cheemayile. He also introduced several actors who later became major stars. His contributions to cinema earned him numerous honours, including multiple National Film Awards and the Padma Shri.

Actor and BJP Tamil Nadu Vice-President Kushbu Sundar tweeted: "Devastated to know that our most beloved and respected director, the legendary #BharathiRaaja avl, is no longer with us. His demise is a gloomy cloud over Tamil cinema. His films have been benchmarks and shall continue to be the actual school of filmmaking. He leaves behind a huge legacy for every cinema lover.

He always said, 'Let's do a film with me in two pigtails.' That shall remain an unfulfilled dream. Will miss you a lot, Sir. Rest in peace."