The passing of veteran filmmaker and actor K. Bhagyaraj has left a deep void in Tamil cinema. With one of his last performances soon releasing in ‘The Dark’ on July 3, the film’s press meet transformed into an emotional tribute to the iconic director. Director Ganesh K Babu, who wrote the movie’s story, fondly remembered the veteran’s contributions to filmmaking and shared how his innovative spirit remained alive till his last days.
When talent redefined the script
While addressing the press and media, Ganesh K Babu revealed a lot of interesting information about his collaboration with late filmmaker K Bhagyaraj. According to Nakkheeran, he said, “On the first day of the shoot for ‘Dada’, he kept asking if there were any dialogues, because there were none. The very next scene had lengthy dialogues for him. Before I could explain, he had already written an entirely different version himself. I initially told him not to use it, but he performed it anyway. By the time the shot ended, he had convinced me that his version was better. That was the moment I realised how foolish I had been.” Ganesh K Babu added, “After that, I never carried scene papers to him again. He would already have his own version written and ready. Most of the dialogues he delivered in ‘Dada’ were written by him, and he followed the same approach in ‘The Dark’ as well.”
Ganesh K Babu recalls his days with the late director
Ganesh K Babu also spoke about the shock of Bhagyaraj’s sudden demise and how the loss affected him personally. “His passing was completely unexpected. The same energy with which he entered cinema stayed with him till the very end,” he said. Recalling the day Bhagyaraj passed away, the director shared, “I was narrating a story to someone that day. I have told that story to many people before, but I have never narrated it as beautifully as I did that day. It honestly felt like he was standing beside me throughout. I believe he will continue to stay with us through The Dark. This film is our tribute to him.”
A simple gesture became their final memory together
Sharing one last personal memory, Ganesh K Babu revealed that he wanted to give Bhagyaraj a small gift on the final day of ‘The Dark’ shoot. “He casually mentioned that his slippers had torn. I immediately bought him a new pair and helped him wear them myself. That was the last time I saw him,” he recalled emotionally. ‘The Dark,’ which features one of Bhagyaraj’s final performances, is set for release on July 3. The film has gained added emotional significance following the veteran’s demise, with the team hoping audiences will celebrate his remarkable contribution to Tamil cinema through his final appearance on screen.
