Filmmaker K Bhagyaraj passed away on June 27 at the age of 73, following a cardiac arrest. In the days since, his son, actor Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, has spoken publicly about the support his family received, particularly from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor C Joseph Vijay.
Shanthnu shared a detailed message on X, addressing Vijay first by his official title before shifting, by the end of the note, to calling him Vijay anna, a term meaning elder brother. The post included photographs of the two together from his father’s funeral.
He wrote about the difficulty of putting his gratitude into words. “How could I possibly confine my gratitude to you within the bounds of mere words? Truly, this is a debt of gratitude that will endure as long as I live,” he said. He referenced an earlier moment too, recalling that Vijay had personally handed over the taali, or mangalsutra, at his wedding, calling it a gesture he had still not finished thanking him for.
Honourable @CMOTamilnadu
உங்களுக்கான என் நன்றியை 26 அல்லது
247-க்குள் எப்படி அடக்கிவிட முடியும்?
மெய்யாகவே என் உயிர் வரை நீடிக்கும் நன்றியிது.
என் திருமணத்திற்கு தாலி எடுத்து தந்து என் மகிழ்ச்சித் திருநாளைத் துவக்கி வைத்தீர்கள். அதற்கே நானின்னும் நன்றி சொல்லித் தீரவில்லை… pic.twitter.com/g3l824pm4T— Shanthnu (@imKBRshanthnu) June 29, 2026
Recalling the day of his father’s passing
Shanthnu also described the moment Vijay came to offer condolences after Bhagyaraj’s death. He said he was moved to see Vijay set aside his official position to comfort his mother directly. “I was deeply moved to see you set aside your official stature and humbly kneel to comfort my mother,” he wrote.
He went on to thank Vijay for ensuring his father was honoured with state honours at the funeral, calling it a significant privilege for any artist to be recognised that way even in death.
Remembering his father’s legacy
In a separate post following the funeral, Shanthnu shared a picture with his father and reflected on what the film industry had come to mean to their family over the years. “The film industry was once solely my father’s world; later, it expanded to become my own, growing into a close knit family and evolving into a cherished bond,” he wrote.
He also extended thanks more broadly, to industry colleagues and friends who stood by the family during this period.
Bhagyaraj was a well known filmmaker and actor in Tamil cinema, with a career spanning decades behind and in front of the camera. He is survived by his wife, actor Poornima Bhagyaraj, his son Shanthnu, and his daughter Saranya.