Director Bharathiraja Falls Ill Following Son’s Death

A photo of veteran director Bharathiraja lying on a hospital bed has gone viral on social media, causing concern among his fans. Those who saw the image expressed deep worry about his health and wished him a speedy recovery. Known for his energetic presence even in his eighties, Bharathiraja appearing weak and frail has left many fans distressed.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran recently visited Bharathiraja, who is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai. He enquired about the director’s health condition with the attending doctors. During this visit, a member of the hospital staff captured a photograph, which has since been widely circulated on social media. The image has saddened fans, who are hoping for his quick recovery.

Meanwhile, Bharathiraja has recently faced a personal tragedy. His son, Manoj Bharathiraja, passed away in March 2025 due to illness, which reportedly affected him deeply. Since then, he has also been dealing with health issues. Bharathiraja is known for directing several classic films in the Tamil film industry. The film 16 Vayathinile brought him significant recognition and featured actors like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi. The film was later remade in Telugu as Padaharella Vayasu by K. Raghavendra Rao and became a major success. Bharathiraja has also directed several Telugu films, including Aradhana, Sitakoka Chiluka, Kotha Jeevithalu and Jamadagni.