Protégés pay their last respects to K. Balachander

"I do not believe in rituals and I was unable to take part in the final rites, and this, I believe, will be the most fitting tribute I pay to him. I have no doubt that his voice will continue to be heard through the artists created by him," said Kamal Hassan through a video telecast.

December 25, 2014 02:35 am | Updated November 17, 2021 11:09 am IST - CHENNAI

Members of the film fraternity and the public turned up in large numbers to accompany the filmmaker’s mortal remains on the final procession from his house on Warren Road in Mylapore to the burial ground in Besant NagarPhoto: R. Ravindran

Members of the film fraternity and the public turned up in large numbers to accompany the filmmaker’s mortal remains on the final procession from his house on Warren Road in Mylapore to the burial ground in Besant NagarPhoto: R. Ravindran

Film-maker K. Balachander, who discovered and nurtured several actors and technicians in Tamil cinema, was laid to rest at the Besant Nagar crematorium on Wednesday evening.

Members of the film fraternity and the public turned up in large numbers to accompany the film-maker’s mortal remains on the final procession from his house on Warren Road in Mylapore to the burial ground in Besant Nagar.

His mortal remains were carried on the back of a truck accompanied by his protégés including actor Prakash Raj and director Vasanth. Representatives of FEFSI, a union body for technicians and workers of Tamil film industry, were also present.

The Tamil Nadu Film Director’s Union had paid homage to the celebrated film-maker by putting up posters extolling him. Actor Rajinikanth, who had visited the film-maker’s home twice — once on Tuesday night and later on Wednesday morning — was also at the crematorium.

Actor Kamal Haasan, also one of the film-maker’s protégés, was unable to be present as he was in the United States to complete the post-production of Uttama Villain , a film in which Mr. Balachander had played a part.

The cremation was over by late evening, marking the end of an epoch in this country’s film-making.

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