Obituaries

Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Bharathiraja Passes Away

Published on 11 Jun 2026

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Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Bharathiraja Passes Away
  • Veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja, known as “Iyakkunar Imayam” (Peak of Directors), passed away on June 10, 2026, in Chennai at the age of 84. He was admitted to MGM Healthcare in December 2025 for breathlessness and lung infection.
  • Bharathiraja made his directorial debut with the iconic rural drama 16 Vayathinile (1977). He won six National Awards and significantly contributed to Tamil cinema through direction, production, and screenwriting, often focusing on village themes and social realism. He is survived by his wife Chandraleela and daughter Janani. His son, actor Manoj Bharathiraja, passed away in March 2025.
Source: SarkariPariksha