A month after Bharathiraja's demise, actor-politician Kamal Haasan remembered the veteran filmmaker on his birth anniversary via a heartfelt social media post.
On his X handle, he wrote, "Today, although my dear friend Bharathiraja is not among us to receive our birthday wishes, his creations remain. My heart swells with gratitude as I fondly recall the friendship he cherished."
Renowned actor-filmmaker Bharathiraja passed away on June 10 after suffering for a long time with various health ailments. Bharathiraja's health had been serious ever since his son Manoj passed away due to a cardiac arrest at the mere age of 48, back in March 2025.
Bharathiraja mentored several filmmakers and actors and left behind an enduring legacy with nearly 50 years in the industry. Bharathiraja made his directorial debut with 16 Vayathinile in 1977, a year after his son was born. Some of his popular directorials include Kizhake Pogum Rail, Sigappu Rojakkal, Alaigal Oivathillai, Kaadhal Oviyam, and Mudhal Mariyathai, among others. On the directorial front, his most recent work is a segment from Modern Love Chennai, titled Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal.
For the unversed, Kamal Haasan headlined Bharathiraja's 16 Vayathinile, alongside Rajinikanth and Sridevi. He later reunited with Bharathiraja for the latter's third directorial, Sigappu Rojakkal, in 1978. The psychological crime thriller was genre-breaking for the director, who was tagged a filmmaker with a rural focus after just two films. The two further worked together in Tik Tik Tik (1981) and Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985).
Speaking at his funeral, Kamal said, "The gentleman is gone. But his friendship will continue, and his art will live on. I am not counting his loss; I am counting his profits. He was there, and he made films with me for which I am very grateful."
