Bharathiraja passes away LIVE | Actor's funeral held with State honours

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The funeral of veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja was held with state honors at his farm house at Ghat Road in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The fans and celebrities gathered at Theni to pay their last respects to veteran director Bharathiraja, who passed away due to age-related ailments at the age of 85 on Wednesday (June 10, 2026).

Bharathiraja’s mortal remains arrived in Theni earlier on Thursday (June 11, 2026), where family members, members of the film fraternity, political leaders and fans gathered to pay their last respects to the iconic filmmaker.

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 Road in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday, Ju