Film director Bharathiraja was enshrined with state honors in Theni district

Farewell: Bharathiraja laid to rest at his farmhouse in Theni district June 11, 2026 | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Film director Bharathiraja, who died on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) in Chennai at the age of 84, was laid to rest with full state honors at his estate in Theni district on Thursday.

Dozens of people from his native village had gathered outside his farmhouse since 6 am when the mortal remains were brought by road from Chennai.

Many mourning women and elders wept uncontrollably upon seeing the body. Police had a tough time controlling the crowd Deputy Inspector General of Police (Dindigul Range) Sasi Mohan supervised the security arrangements. At least 1,000 policemen have been deployed in and around Ghat Road and traffic has been diverted in the area.

Representatives of various political parties and members of film associations paid their last respects. former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam; Tamil Nadu Ministers Nirmal Kumar and Vanni Arasu; Theni Collector R. Vaithinathan; Nam Tamilar Katchi Chief Coordinator Seeman; CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam; Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan; former AIADMK ministers Sellur K. Raju and RB Udayakumar; actor Karunas; film directors RK Selvamani, Vetrimaran, Parthiban, Amir, Ram and Pon Ram; actor Radhika and her sister Nirosha; actor Vadivelu among others were also present.

The villagers who remembered their association with Bharathiraj said that he was affectionate and would call each of them by name. He helped the children with education and during one of his visits in recent years he asked about an old friend.

Around 3 pm, family members performed the last rites, led by Bharathiraj’s daughter Janani. The body was laid to rest with a police salute.

In pictures: Director Bharathiraja, a transformative force in Tamil cinema

Tamil cinema has lost one of its greatest auteurs. At the age of 84 and heartbroken after the loss of his son Manoj last year, the director who had launched scores of actors and directors was in his twilight years.

In a career spanning over five decades, the auteur has cemented an unshakable legacy as one of the greatest Tamil filmmakers of all time.

Like the title of one of his hits, ‘Mann Vasanai’, Bharathiraj’s films evoked the smell of the soil. Photograph of Bharathiraj in 1980. (Photo published in ‘The Hindu’ dated 16 November 1980.)

“En iniya Thamizh makkale (My dear Tamil people)”, a preparatory line marinated in love and warmth, has now become part of the mists of time. Legendary director Bharathiraja uttered these words as a preamble just before starting his celluloid offerings.

’16 Vayathinile’ signaled the arrival of a new wave in Tamil cinema, a wave that dared to portray the truth with heightened realism. Bharathiraja with the ’16 Victors’ team. Also seen are Sridevi, SA Rajkannu, PS Nivas (Cameraman) and K. Bhagyaraj (Assistant Director).

The Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan duo may have their roots in the K. Balachander school, but it was Bharathiraja who offered them a path that he did not lead through his starrer ’16 Vayadhinile’, which also starred the amazing Sridevi. Steeped in equal measure in the innocence and misogyny typical of the village, the 1977 hit became the stuff of legend, breaking Tamil cinema out of the stifling confines of the studios and making outdoor shooting the preferred norm.

Widely regarded as one of the industry’s greatest giants, the legendary director was best known for his nuanced portrayal of life in rural Tamil Nadu.

Director Bharathiraja receives the National Award for Majrooh Sultanpuri’s ‘Karuthamma’. A towering figure in the film industry, fondly known as Iyakkunar Imayam (Pinnacle among Directors), Bharathiraja has won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards (South), six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Nandi Award.

Bharathiraja shared a close bond with composer Ilaiyaraaja and his brother Gangai Amaran even before they made it big in the film world. Ilaiyaraaja went on to compose music for many of Bharathiraj’s films and delivered a string of memorable hits before they eventually parted ways.

Still from Bharathiraj’s masterpiece ‘Mudhal Mariyathai’. Director Bharathiraja (L) with Sivaji Ganesan (R).

Two veteran directors K. Balachander and Bharathiraja from the Tamil film industry played key roles in ‘Rettachuzhi’.

Film director Bharathiraaja receives the 2003 Best Film Award for his film “Eera Nilam” from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in Chennai on February 23, 2006 at the State Film Awards 2003-2004.

Bharathiraj’s films brought up themes such as casteism, gender inequality, femicide, urban unemployment and social norms regarding gender and age.

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Published – 11 Jun 2026 20:16 IST