Director Bharathiraja's demise has not only shocked his fans and audiences, but also sent a wave of sadness across the hundreds of artists who worked with him in his five-decade-long career.

Actor Suhasini Maniratnam, who shares warm, enduring relationship with Bharathiraja, expressed her grief on her mentor's demise and recalled how he introduced her to Telugu cinema.

"He's one of the, probably the one man who took Tamil cinema from the studios to reality. There is no one like him. The rural stories that he did were fantastic. In fact, most of his films were shot at my house, including his famous Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)," she shared, in an exclusive interview with Cinema Express.

Suhasini also revealed how he paved way for her career in Telugu cinema through Kotha Jeevithalu (1980), the remake of his own Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). In the same year, she worked as his assistant director in Nizhalgal (1980). "I have done more than 100 films in Telugu thanks to him," she said, calling him her guru.

"I had the privilege of acting in three or four of his films, including a Tamil film. To me, he was not just a legendary filmmaker but also family," she added, underlining the irreplaceable void that his demise has created. "I shared a close personal bond with him and have always been immensely proud of his films and the cinematic culture he created in Tamil cinema. He was a true pioneer—many who came after him simply followed the path he had already carved," she said.

Suhasini also played the lead in Aradhana (1987), the remake of Bharathiraja's Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986).

Bharathiraja breathed his last at the age of 85 succumbing to age-related ailments at his residence in Chennai.