DMK Chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the residence of his friend K Bhagyaraj's residence and paid his last respects to the noted filmmaker-actor who breathed his last on Saturday at the age of 73.
Expressing his grief on the filmmaker's demise, he shared how fate took away the mentor (Bharathiraja) as well as the disciple (Bhagyaraj) in a matter of days.
"Bhagyaraj was an extraordinary filmmaker who excelled in every sphere—as the uncrowned king of screenwriting in Indian cinema, a champion of realistic storytelling who captivated audiences, and a writer with the rare ability to convey complex situations through simple yet powerful dialogue," he wrote, underscoring his contribution in nurturing and mentoring several filmmakers and making them successful.
Stalin also recalled how he participated in the celebration of marking his 50 years in cinema. "At the event, I spoke not only as the Chief Minister but also as one of his admirers. Those memories remain fresh in my mind. Though he still had the strength and opportunity to contribute to the film industry for many more years, his life has now come to an end. His passing is a profound loss," he added, extending his heartfelt condolences his grieving family. "Through his timeless creations, Bhagyaraj will forever remain an inseparable part of the people of Tamil Nadu," he wrote, concluding his deeply emotional note.
Interestingly, Bhagyaraj first started out with a small cameo appearance, as a junior artist, in Bharathiraja's debut, 16 Vayathinile (1977) and then briefly appeared in the director's Sigappu Rojakkal (1978) where he also wrote dialogues for it. He served as an assistant director to the late filmmaker in 16 Vayathinile and Kizhakke Pogum Rail (1978) and wrote script for it. Bhagyaraj made his directorial debut with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal (1979) and went on to earn a prolific name in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi industries.
For the unversed, Bhagyaraj joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the presence of the then party president M Karunanidhi in 2006. He later left the DMK and remained as a spectator in politics.
