Rajnikanth recalled that Bharathiraja sustained the film industry by introducing many technicians and directors and always spoke up for anyone facing issues. “He brought immense joy to me”, he said.
Ilaiyaraja described his bond with Bharathiraja as irreplaceable and said that his prayers will always stay with him.
Gangai Amaran lamented that Bharathiraja was the reason for his and Ilaiyaraja’s survival in the early days, as he “shared his salary for them to eat and built their lives”.
Chiranjeevi wrote on X, “Bharathiraja garu’s contribution to Indian cinema is immeasurable. His passion for cinema, simplicity, and dedication to his craft left a lasting impression on me.”
Mohanlal said, “Sharing screen space with Bharathiraja Sir in Thudarum was an honour I will cherish forever. Your presence will be deeply missed.”
Revathi paid rich tributes and stated that, “He is the reason I am here as an actress and did the films I did."
Sukanya grieved Bharathiraja’s loss and recalled an incident where he jumped into a deep well himself to test the safety of a shot before letting her perform.
R Parthiban described losing Bharathiraja as the loss of his “very roots” and said that he was the one who taught him to capture the essence of soil on screen.