PM Modi mourns Bharathiraja, calls him towering figure of Tamil cinema in tribute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to iconic Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja a day after the veteran filmmaker died at 84. His message highlighted the director's lasting impact on Tamil cinema and his acclaimed portrayal of rural life.

In Short

• PM Modi pays tribute to veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja
• Bharathiraja was known for revolutionising Tamil cinema with rural stories
• His debut film 16 Vayathinile changed Tamil cinema landscape in 1977

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja on Thursday, a day after the legendary director died at the age of 84. The filmmaker, best known for revolutionising Tamil cinema with his rooted rural narratives, died on Wednesday following age-related ailments.

Sharing his tribute on his official X handle, PM Modi expressed grief over the filmmaker's demise and acknowledged his immense contribution to Indian cinema. "The death of Thiru Bharathiraja Ji is very saddening. He was a towering figure of the cinema world whose works transformed Tamil cinema. Particularly noteworthy was his portrayal of rural life. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister wrote in Tamil.

Bharathiraja's health had reportedly been declining since the death of his son, actor-director Manoj Bharathiraja, who died due to cardiac arrest in March 2025 at the age of 48. Over the past year, the veteran filmmaker had been hospitalised multiple times and was said to have been in critical condition on more than one occasion.

The director made his debut with the landmark film 16 Vayathinile in 1977, a film widely credited with changing the landscape of Tamil cinema. It starred Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi in lead roles. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Bharathiraja became synonymous with realistic storytelling and authentic depictions of village life. Popularly known as 'Iyakkunar Immayam' (The pinnacle of director), he helmed several acclaimed films including Kizhake Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaadhal Oviyam and Mudhal Mariyathai.

His final directorial work was Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal, a segment in the anthology series Modern Love Chennai, which premiered in 2023 on Prime video.

Meanwhile, after members of the film fraternity and the public paid their respects, Bharathiraja's body was taken to his hometown Theni on Thursday morning. The body will be kept there to allow residents and admirers from nearby regions to pay their last respects. His last rites are scheduled to take place in his hometown at around 3 pm.

Bharathiraja leaves behind a towering legacy that reshaped Tamil cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers. His deathmarks the end of an era for Indian cinema, particularly for audiences who cherished his deeply human stories rooted in the soil of rural Tamil Nadu.

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