Veteran Tamil director Bharathiraja dies due to prolonged illness at 85 in Chennai

Veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja died in Chennai on Monday after prolonged ill health. He was 85. More details regarding the funeral are awaited.

In Short

• Veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja died at 85 in Chennai due to ill health
• Tamil Film Producers Council confirmed his death and expressed regret
• Actor Khushbu Sundar called his death a gloomy cloud in Tamil cinema

Veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja died on Wednesday morning in Chennai due to ill health and other age-related ailments. He was 85. The exact cause of his death is not yet known. More details regarding his funeral are awaited.

The members of Tamil Film Producers Council confirmed the news and expressed regret. Their message in Tamil is loosely translated as saying, "We regret to inform you that the legendary director Mr. Bharathiraja, a former president and one of the senior members of our association, died early this morning."

Actor, producer and politician Khushbu Sundar was devastated to hear the news of Bharathiraja's death. In an X post, she called his death a "gloomy cloud" in Tamil cinema.

His health had been deteriorating ever since his son, actor Manoj Bharathiraja, died of a cardiac arrest in March 2024 at the age of 48. Visuals from Manoj's death and final rites had shown a shattered Bharathiraja struggling to come to terms with the loss.

In December last year, Bharathiraja was admitted to a hospital in T Nagar, Chennai, after he reportedly respiratory problems, including wheezing.

Bharathiraja made his directorial debut with 16 Vayathinile in 1977, a year after his son was born. He went on to direct over 40 films and came to be known as 'Iyakkunar Immayam' for over four decades. Among his best-known films as a director are Kizhake Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaadhal Oviyam and Mudhal Mariyathai.

His most recent directorial work was Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal, a segment from Prime Video's anthology, Modern Love Chennai.

He also acted in several films. His most recent screen appearance was in Mohanlal's Thudarum. His unreleased film Pulavar will be his last as an actor. His other acting credits include Aayutha Ezhuthu, Pandianadu, Eeswaran, Thiruchitrambalam and Maharaja.

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