Bharathiraja passes away LIVE | People pay homage to the late filmmaker's mortal remains

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Theni District Collector R. Vaithinathan paying his tributes to film director Bharathiraja's mortal remains at his farm house in Ganguvarpatti, on behalf of the TN government.

Renowned Tamil film director Bharathiraja passed away in Chennai on Wednesday (June 10, 2026). Tributes poured in for the ace director who died at 84. He had been ailing for some time.

The final rites of Bharathiraja will be performed with full state honours at his farmhouse in Theni district on June 11 afternoon.

The remains will reach his farmhouse at Kaatrodu near Vathalagundu on Thursday (June 11, 2026) morning. Following public homage, the burial will take place at 3 p.m.

Also Read: The multiple shades of ‘actor’ Bharathiraja: ‘Mani Ratnam asked me if I was interested in politics’

A towering personality in the film industry, fondly known as Iyakkunar Imayam (Pinnacle among Directors), Mr. Bharathiraja won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards (South), six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Nandi Award. More significantly, he was instrumental in introducing several new actors in Tamil cinema. In a characteristic move, he rechristened many actors with names beginning with the letter “R”, gifting the industry with talented artistes including Radikaa, Revathi, Radha, Ranjitha and Rekha. The actors who went on to become prominent figures in the Tamil industry include Karthik, Pandian, Chandrasekar, Napoleon and Janakaraj.

Theni District Collector R. Vaithinathan, I.A.S., on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu, laid a wreath and paid tribute to Director Bharathiraja who passed away due to ill health, at his farmhouse in Ganguvarpatti, Theni district, Tamil Nadu on June 11, 2026.

As Bharathiraja’s funeral is held at his farm house at Ghat Road in Theni district, former Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam, Naam Tamilar Party leader Seeman, actor Vadivelu, poet Vairamuthu paid homage to the late filmmaker.

Actor Vadivelu paying homage to veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja at his farm house at Ghat Ro