Bharathiraja dies at 84: CM Vijay pays tribute, announces full state honour

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay paid tribute to veteran director Bharathiraja at his Neelangarai residence in Chennai on Wednesday and announced that full State honours would be accorded to the filmmaker's funeral procession as a mark of respect. The filmmaker died of prolonged illness early this morning. He was 84.

He also offered condolences to Bharathiraja's family and the film personalities present at the director's house.

Here's the video:

CM Vijay also shared a post on X, where he expressed his deep sorrow and said that Bharathiraja's death is a monumental loss to Tamil cinema.

Several film personalities also went to Bharathiraja's house to pay their respects, while tributes continued to pour in on social media.

Apart from Vijay, those who paid tribute at Bharathiraja's residence included Radikaa Sarathkumar, Nirosha, Sivakumar, Gangai Amaren and director-politician Seeman. More details regarding the funeral are still awaited.

Among those who remembered the director were former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and megastar Chiranjeevi, both of whom wrote at length about his contribution to cinema and the impact of his work.

In his post, MK Stalin said the death of 'Iyakkunar Imayam' Bharathiraja, who "reshaped the path of Tamil cinema and created a new direction", had brought immense sorrow and described his death as a profound loss to Tamil cinema. He said Bharathiraja "spoke a unique language in cinema and created an entire era of his own", adding that cameras confined within studios entered villages through him and that he brought rural people and their lives to the screen, taking Tamil cinema closer to reality.

Stalin also said films such as 16 Vayathinile, Kizhakke Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Tik Tik Tik, Muthal Mariyathai, Kadalora Kavithaigal, Vedham Pudhithu and Karuthamma could not be overlooked by anyone writing the history of Tamil cinema, and added that Bharathiraja had left his mark in other languages as well. He said the director held immense affection for Karunanidhi and played a significant role in involving the film industry in the struggle for Tamil Nadu's rights because of his attachment to Tamil and the Tamil people.

Stalin also recalled meeting Bharathiraja to enquire about his health and personally consoling him on his son Manoj Bharathiraja's death, saying that memory now weighed heavily on his heart.

He extended condolences to Bharathiraja's family, film artistes, his students and the people of Tamil Nadu, and said the director, born in Alli Nagar, would live forever in the hearts of cinema lovers and Tamil people. Referring to the funeral, Stalin said those present while paying personal tribute had requested a farewell with state honours, and urged the Government of Tamil Nadu to take the necessary action.

Chiranjeevi, in his tribute post, wrote, "Indian cinema has lost one of its greatest storytellers, Bharathiraja garu." He said Bharathiraja transformed "the fragrance of village soil, the beauty of human relationships, the innocence of love, and the emotions of ordinary people into timeless cinematic poetry", and added that his films touched millions of hearts and inspired generations of filmmakers.

Chiranjeevi also described Bharathiraja as a recipient of the Padma Shri and several National Film Awards, and said his contribution to Indian cinema was immeasurable.

Recalling their association, he wrote that he was fortunate to work under Bharathiraja's direction as Puliraju in Aradhana, and said the filmmaker's passion for cinema, simplicity and dedication to his craft left a lasting impression on him. He added that while Bharathiraja was no longer with us, his legacy would live on through his remarkable films, and ended his message by offering condolences to his family, friends and admirers and saying, "Om Shanti."

With Vijay announcing full State honours for the funeral procession, several celebrities paying their respects in person, and messages from Stalin and Chiranjeevi recalling Bharathiraja's body of work and influence, tributes to the veteran director continue to pour in.