Actor Mohanlal on Wednesday, 10 June paid heartfelt tribute to legendary Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja, describing the late director as someone who ‘found poetry in the soil, truth in silence, and soul in every frame.’ The tribute came hours after Bharathiraja passed away in Chennai in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 84, triggering an outpouring of condolences from across Indian cinema.

Mohanlal’s Personal Tribute

Taking to his X timeline, Mohanlal wrote: ‘A director who found poetry in the soil, truth in silence, and soul in every frame. Sharing screen space with Bharathiraja Sir in Thudarum was an honour I will cherish forever. Rest in peace, Sir. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations, and your presence will be deeply missed.’ The Malayalam superstar had appeared alongside Bharathiraja in the blockbuster film Thudarum, making the tribute especially personal.

Thudarum Director Also Pays Homage

Tharun Moorthy, director of Thudarum, also shared his grief, posting pictures of himself with Bharathiraja on Instagram with the words: ‘Thank you, Master. Memories #Thudarum forever.’ The tributes from the Thudarum team underline how deeply Bharathiraja had touched the Malayalam film fraternity as well, beyond his native Tamil cinema.

Chiranjeevi and Other Stalwarts Grieve

Megastar Chiranjeevi called Bharathiraja ‘one of Indian cinema’s greatest storytellers,’ saying he ‘transformed the fragrance of village soil, the beauty of human relationships, the innocence of love, and the emotions of ordinary people into timeless cinematic poetry.’ Chiranjeevi recalled working under Bharathiraja’s direction as ‘Puliraju’ in Aradhana, describing the director’s passion, simplicity, and craft as a lasting impression. He signed off with: ‘Rest in peace, “Iyakkunar Imayam” Bharathiraja garu.’ Condolence messages have been pouring in from across the country, with several film industry stalwarts expressing grief over the demise of the iconic filmmaker.

Legacy of a Trendsetter

Bharathiraja, widely honoured with the title Iyakkunar Imayam (Himalaya of Directors), was a Padma Shri awardee and a recipient of six National Film Awards. He is credited with transforming rural Tamil Nadu into a cinematic canvas, pioneering a naturalistic style that influenced generations of filmmakers across India. His films are regarded as cult classics in Tamil cinema.

State Mourns; CM Among First to Pay Homage

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was among the first to pay homage at Bharathiraja’s residence in Neelangarai, Chennai, on Wednesday. The veteran director had reportedly been battling health issues for some time before his passing. With his death, Indian cinema loses one of its most distinctive voices — a filmmaker who consistently chose the village over the city, the ordinary over the ornate, and the human over the spectacular. His body of work is expected to remain a touchstone for filmmakers and cinephiles for decades to come.