The death of veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja has left the Tamil film fraternity in deep sorrow. The acclaimed director passed away on June 10 at the age of 84 and several tributes were shared by fans and celebrities.Several members of the industry visited his residence to pay their final respects. Among them were legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja and his brother, musician and filmmaker Gangai Amaran.
Gangai Amaran’s emotional reaction
During his visit to Bharathiraja’s residence Gangai Amaran was visibly overcome with grief. A video that surfaced online showed him expressing his anguish near the late director’s mortal remains.According to Money Control reports, he questioned members of Bharathiraja’s family about the filmmaker’s final days. He reportedly said, “You all left him alone in the end.” He also claimed that the veteran filmmaker passed away with nobody beside him. Actress Radhika Sarathkumar was also seen asking him to let the matter rest.Later, while speaking to the media, Gangai Amaran opened up on Bharathiraja’s importance in his life and career. He spoke about the close bond shared by Bharathiraja, Ilaiyaraaja and himself during their early years.As quoted by Hindustan Times, he said, “Don’t you realise the grief we are in? Bharathiraja is the one who raised us. If he hadn’t come to Chennai, we wouldn’t be here. Both Ilaiyaraaja and I worked with him, and we all lived by sharing his salary. He fed us, raised us, and made us who we are. He is such a great man. Think of the sorrow when you realise such a man is no longer with us. Can you even imagine? Is it possible to describe?”
Ilaiyaraaja struggles to put loss into words
Ilaiyaraaja also paid his respects at Bharathiraja’s residence. However, when reporters approached him for comments, the composer found it difficult to speak about the loss. “What’s there to say? There’s nothing to say. There’s literally nothing to say; we’ve lost the man. This is not the place for an interview,” he said.He further added, “I pray to God for his soul to rest in peace. I am always respectful of this country, its people and its artists. The bond I share with you, my audience, is the bond I share with him, too.”
Radha Ravi recalls Bharathiraja’s personal struggles
Actor Radha Ravi recently spoke about the personal hardships Bharathiraja faced in recent years. During an interaction with Filmibeat, he recalled the emotional impact of losing his son, Manoj.According to Radha Ravi, the tragedy changed Bharathiraja significantly and left a lasting effect on him. He said, “After Manoj passed away Bharathiraja was never the same. He struggled to come out of that pain. Losing a son at such a young age affected him deeply.”He further added, “He would feel sad thinking about Manoj’s wife and children. That thought stayed with him and caused him a lot of mental stress.”