Legendary filmmaker Bharathiraja was laid to rest with state honours on June 11 in his hometown of Theni, with celebrities, fans and dignitaries gathering to pay their final respects. Tight security was in place for the ceremony, with the large turnout adding to the emotion of the occasion.

Bharathiraja's brother Jayaraj has since expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay for overseeing the arrangements. Speaking to Galatta, Jayaraj said that Vijay made all the arrangements and that it would have been impossible for the family alone to manage the large crowd without the CM's support.

Vijay had visited the veteran filmmaker on June 10 to pay his respects, and in a written tribute described Bharathiraja as a filmmaker who captured the vibrant essence of rural life and left an indelible mark on Tamil cinema. He highlighted the director's numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, and called his passing an irreplaceable loss to the industry.

While Vijay never worked with Bharathiraja on a film, his father Chandrasekhar had once discussed a village-based project with the director that did not materialise. The CM's efforts to ensure a dignified farewell for the legendary filmmaker have nonetheless been warmly acknowledged by the family.