Poonam Dhillon shares fond memories of working with filmmaker Bharathiraja
Mumbai, June 12
Veteran actress Poonam Dhillon has shared fond memories of working with acclaimed filmmaker Bharathiraja.
She reflected on her experience of being directed by the legendary storyteller. In her recollection, Poonam highlighted the creative atmosphere on set and the filmmaker's distinctive vision that left a lasting impression on her. Sharing a throwback clip from her film 'Red Rose', the actress wrote, "A tribute to Legendary BharathiRaja a great filmmaker, totally self made genius with God given talent in music & creativity."
"He introduced many actors into Films. I was lucky to work with him in Red Rose with him and "Saverey Wali Gadi" which remains one of my favorite films. His contribution to Cinema is tremendous. May he rest in eternal peace with the Almighty."
Directed by Bharathiraja, "Red Rose" starred Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhillon. The film is a remake of the Tamil movie Sigappu Rojakkal. "Saveray Wali Gaadi," also directed by Bharathiraja, featured Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon in lead roles.
Veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja passed away on June 10 following age-related health complications. His funeral was held in Chennai, where members of the South Indian film industry gathered at his residence to pay their final respects. Several prominent personalities, including Suriya, Kamal Haasan, and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, were among those who arrived to offer condolences to the bereaved family.
Several others also took to their social media platforms to express their grief over Bharathiraja's passing.
Chiranjeevi on X shared a heartfelt note celebrating the filmmaker's contribution to Indian cinema. He had written, "Indian cinema has lost one of its greatest storytellers, #Bharathiraja garu. He transformed the fragrance of village soil, the beauty of human relationships, the innocence of love, and the emotions of ordinary people into timeless cinematic poetry. His films touched millions of hearts and inspired generations of filmmakers."
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartwarming to see actors from different industries paying homage. Bharathiraja wasn't just a Tamil filmmaker; he was a pan-Indian legend. His ability to capture raw human emotions was unmatched. However, I do wish more of his work was recognized nationally during his lifetime. Rest in peace, sir.
I'm not Indian but I've watched a few of Bharathiraja's films. The man had incredible storytelling skills. 'Red Rose' is hauntingly beautiful. It's sad to lose such a creative force. My condolences to his family and the entire Indian film fraternity.
That clip of 'Red Rose' takes me back! Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhillon looked magical together. Bharathiraja sir had such a unique vision — he could make even a simple love story feel like poetry. South Indian cinema has lost a legend. Big loss for Indian cinema overall. 😢
It's great that Poonam Dhillon took the time to share these memories. But let's be honest — mainstream Bollywood still doesn't give enough credit to South Indian auteurs like Bharathiraja. He deserved a Padma award at least. The man was a self-made genius who changed Tamil cinema forever. Rest in power, sir.
Chiranjeevi garu's words are spot on — Bharathiraja truly turned the fragrance of village soil into cinematic poetry. His films like 'Mouna Ragam' and 'Sigappu Rojakkal' were way ahead of their time. Poonam ji's tribute is so heartfelt. RIP
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