Actors Kamal Haasan and Vijay as also music composer Ilaiyaraaja were among a large number of celebrities who paid their last respects on Wednesday to deceased Tamil actor-filmmaker Manoj Bharathiraja.
Bharathiraja passed away on Tuesday in Chennai after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 48. The son of legendary Tamil director Bharathiraja, Manoj’s sudden demise has left the Tamil film industry in shock.
His final rites were held at his residence, in the presence of several film personalities.
Actor Vijay was among the first to visit Manoj’s home on Wednesday. Videos circulating on social media show him placing a large garland on Manoj’s mortal remains and standing in silence before leaving with a heavy heart.
Kamal Haasan also expressed his grief in a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter). “I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news of Manoj Bharathiraja’s passing. My deepest condolences to Bharathiraja, his family, and friends who are grieving this loss,” he wrote.
Music composer Ilaiyaraaja, director Venkat Prabhu, and actor-politician Khushbu Sundar also shared their condolences.
Venkat Prabhu posted a picture of Manoj with friends, calling his death “really shocking.” Khushbu wrote, “Extremely shocked… He was just 48. May God give strength to Bharathiraja sir and his family to overcome this unbearable loss.”
Manoj made his acting debut in 1999 with ‘Taj Mahal’, directed by his father. He went on to star in films like ‘Samudhiram’ (2001), ‘Kadal Pookkal’ (2001), ‘Alli Arjuna’ (2002), ‘Eera Nilam’ (2003), and more recently, ‘Maanaadu’ (2021) and ‘Viruman’ (2022).
Before becoming an actor, Manoj worked as an assistant director under Bharathiraja and was involved in multiple projects, including ‘Final Cut of Director’ (2016).
Manoj’s sudden demise has left his fans and colleagues devastated. Known for his quiet charm and passion for cinema, his loss is deeply felt in the Tamil film industry.
