Tamil Nadu's newly-elected Chief Minister Vijay has shared his condolences and sadness following the death of noted producer-director-actor K Rajan.
In his official statement, he wrote, "K Rajan was known for consistently voicing his opinions with courage on the welfare of the film industry, particularly regarding the rights of small-scale film producers and distributors, as well as the direction and future of Tamil cinema. His contributions, built through decades of close association with the film industry, will always be remembered."
Offering his condolences, Vijay extended heartfelt sympathies to Rajan’s grieving family, friends, and members of the Tamil film industry mourning his loss. He added that the veteran filmmaker’s contributions and legacy would forever remain etched in the memories of the industry.
Rajan, who started his career in Tamil cinema as a producer with Brammacharigal (1983), died by suicide. He was 85. His death sent shockwaves across the industry. The law enforcement had filed a case in relation to the producer's death and has commenced an investigation into it.
His other production ventures include Doubles (2000), Aval Paavam (2000), and Ninaikkatha Naalillai (2000). In 1991, he debuted as a director with Nizhalgal Ravi and Sarathkumar’s Namma Ooru Maariamma and helmed his sophomore directorial in 2005 with Unarchigal.
Some of his acting works include films like Michael Raj, Sonthakkaran, Veettoda Maapillai, Paambu Saatai, Ajith Kumar’s Thunivu, and Selvaraghavan’s Bakasuran. Apart from his career in cinema, K Rajan was also known for his outspoken views about the various situations in the industry. He is survived by his son and filmmaker KR Prabhu.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm)