Legendary
filmmaker Bharathiraja's demise marks the end of an era. The celebrated director, who delivered classics such as Kizhake Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaadhal Oviyam, and Mudhal Mariyathai, passed away on Wednesday, June 10. He was 84. His death has left the Indian film fraternity in mourning. Allu Arjun, Ram Gopal Varma, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and others mourned the demise. Paying tribute to the veteran filmmaker, SS Rajamouli described him as a trailblazer whose groundbreaking work transformed the landscape of Indian cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers.
SS Rajamouli mourns Bharathiraja's death
The
RRR director wrote, "Bharathiraja garu was a true pioneer who revolutionised cinema with his raw and uncompromising storytelling. Those unforgettable rural narratives, that fearless vision and the authenticity he brought to the screen will live on forever. It was an honour to witness and celebrate his extraordinary body of work and legacy. Om Shanti."
Fans took to the comments section of Rajamouli's tweet to offer condolences. "True storyteller never really leaves, their stories and impact continue to inspire generations. Bharathiraja garus contribution to cinema will always remain special. RIP," wrote a netizen. Another commented, "He truly transformed the face of regional cinema by bringing authentic grassroots stories from rural areas to the big screen. This is a massive loss for the film industry but his magnificent legacy will continue to inspire future generations of directors. May his soul rest in peace."
South film industry pays tribute
RGV wrote that apart from giving India its biggest female superstar, Sridevi, Bharathiraja blended the realism of Satyajit Ray, the character-driven storytelling of Mukherjee, and Chatterjee's sense of situational comedy to create deeply rooted cinema across genres. He added that Bharathiraja's films connected with audiences from all classes, regardless of language, and described him as a true auteur.Mohanlal, Pawan Kalyan, Raghava Lawrence and several other stars penned emotional tributes, remembering the legendary filmmaker and celebrating his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema.
More about Bharathiraja
Bharathiraja began his journey as a director with
16 Vayathinile in 1977. Starring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Rajinikanth, the film changed the way rural stories were shown in Tamil cinema. Over the years, he went on to direct many successful and critically acclaimed films.His signature greeting, "
Yen Iniya Tamil Makkale..." became one of his most recognisable catchphrases.During a career that included nearly 40 films as a director, Bharathiraja earned the title
Iyakkunar Imayam for his immense contribution to Indian cinema. Besides filmmaking, he also enjoyed a successful acting career.