Even as Tamil film fraternity members and fans mourn the passing of veteran director-actor-screenwriter K Bhagyaraj, his family has arranged for the filmmaker's eyes to be donated. The family has made the move in alignment with a pledge from the filmmaker dating back years. The multi-hyphenate passed away earlier this Saturday in Chennai following a cardiac arrest. He was aged 73 at the time of death.

A group of medical professionals visited his house earlier this Saturday and collected his eyes. The filmmaker's family informed them of his passing, because he registered for the organ donation years ago.

Meanwhile, Bhagyaraj's body is being kept at the Nungambakkam house so that the public can pay their final tributes to the director, known for shaping Tamil cinema of the 1980s and beyond. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has announced that state honours will be accorded to him at his funeral, slated to happen at 1:30 pm on Sunday.

Tamil cinema bids adieu to a director with a vision

Widely acknowledged as the 'Screenplay King' and a protege of the late Bharathirajaa, K Bhagyaraj's filmmaking vision remained rooted in exploring the mundane lives of commoners. He honed his craft by working with Bharathiraja on films such as 16 Vayathinile, Sigappu Rojakkal, and Kizhakke Pogum Rail. His cinema often depicted everyday struggles, middle-class realities, and ordinary circumstances that made for extraordinary stories.

He is also a pioneer of the director being the 'all-in-one' principle, championing the idea of a filmmaker wearing multiple hats and thus driving their creative vision. In his over-five-decade-long career, he served as a director, actor, writer, producer, and even music composer.