Bharathiraja, ace film director, passes away (opens original article in a new tab)

Renowned Tamil film director Bharathiraja passed away at 84 in Chennai, known for transforming Tamil cinema and introducing new actors. He was celebrated for his films and social themes.

• Bharathiraja died at 84 in Chennai.
• He transformed Tamil cinema by using rural landscapes and introduced actors with names starting with 'R'.
• His films addressed social issues and featured notable music by Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman.