The death of veteran filmmaker and actor K. Bhagyaraj has left a deep void in Tamil cinema. With one of his last performances soon to be released in ‘The Dark’ on July 3, the press meet of the film was transformed into an emotional tribute to the iconic director. director Ganesh K Babuwho wrote the film’s story, fondly recalled the veteran’s contributions to cinema and shared how his innovative spirit stayed alive until 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 the late filmmaker K Bhagyaraj. According to Nakkheeran, he said, “On the first day of shooting ‘Dada’, he kept asking if there were any dialogues, because there weren’t any. The next scene had long dialogues for him. Before he could explain it, he had already written a completely different version himself. At first I told him not to use it, but he did anyway. By the time the shot was over, I had convinced myself that his version was better. That was the moment I realized how foolish I had been.” Ganesh K Babu added, “After that, I never brought him the stage papers 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 death and how the loss affected him personally. “His passing was completely unexpected. The same energy with which he entered cinema stayed with him until the end,” he said. Recalling the day Bhagyaraj passed away, the director shared, “That day I was narrating a story to someone. I have told this story to many people before, but I have never narrated it as beautifully as that day. I honestly felt like he was right next to me the whole time. I think he will continue 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 a small gift to Bhagyaraj on the last day of ‘The Dark’ shoot. “He casually mentioned that his sneakers were broken. I immediately bought him a new pair and helped him put them on myself. That was the last time I saw him,” he recalled excitedly. ‘The Dark’, which features one of Bhagyaraj’s last performances, will release on July 3. The film has taken on an added emotional significance after the veteran’s demise, with the team hoping that audiences will celebrate his remarkable contribution to Tamil cinema through his last on-screen appearance.