Director K Balachander was given an emotional send-off in Chennai, where his last rites were held. Hordes of fans, friends and people from the film fraternity gathered to bid adieu to the filmmaker who died of a cardiac arrest in Chennai yesterday at the age of 84.
Balachander's funeral procession, which began at around 2 pm. in a flower-bedecked vehicle from his residence, ended at the Besant Nagar crematorium here.
The celebrities who paid tribute to the director included, superstar Rajinikanth, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth and actors such as Vijay, Vikram, Arjun, Sathyaraj, Sarath Kumar, Khushbu, Prakash Raj, Sripriya, Manorama, Srikanth, Sivakumar, Dhanush, Visu, Mohan and T Rajendar.
His death sent shock waves through the film industry A distraught Rajinikanth said yesterday, "Balachander was my friend, philosopher and guide. I've no words. I feel like I've lost myself. I pray God to rest his soul in peace. KB sir was not just my guru. He was my father as well. He also never saw me as an actor and treated me like his own son. He was like a god in human form and I feel lost in his absence."
Mr Balachander had over 150 films to his credit, many of which left an indelible mark on the masses for their hard-hitting subjects and unconventional themes. His blockbuster movies include Aval Oru ThodarkathaiAnthulaney KathaMaro CharitraEk Duuje Ke LiyeThillu Mullu
