Actress Radikaa Sarathkumar has strongly criticized the conduct of paparazzi and onlookers during the funeral of legendary filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj, urging the media to show compassion and respect for grieving families instead of turning moments of loss into content.
K. Bhagyaraj passed away on June 27 in Chennai after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 73. The iconic actor, writer, and director was cremated with full state honours on June 28 at the Besant Nagar crematorium. Several prominent actors, filmmakers, and technicians from the Tamil film industry gathered to pay their final respects.
However, the solemn farewell was marred by the behaviour of some photographers and spectators who continued recording videos, taking selfies, and zooming in on Bhagyaraj’s grieving family despite repeated requests for privacy.
Videos from the funeral showed Radikaa confronting people who continued filming the emotional moments. Sharing one such clip on her Instagram Stories, she wrote, “Funeral paparazzi and grief onlookers should be booked. This is so sad.”
In another emotional tribute shared on X, Radikaa remembered Bhagyaraj as “a great creator, an evolved writer, and a filmmaker who drew wonderful boundaries in cinema.” She also recalled how he had quietly stood by her family over the years.
Expressing her disappointment over the atmosphere at the funeral, she wrote, “A place where all needed to digress and mourn in silence turned into a circus.” She questioned how such insensitive behaviour had become normal and called for immediate action.
Radikaa urged the Tamil Nadu government and the film industry to introduce clear protocols for media coverage at public funerals. She also called for restrictions on paparazzi and better crowd management to ensure families are allowed to grieve with dignity and privacy.
This is not the first time the actress has spoken out on the issue. Earlier this month, during veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja’s funeral, she had similarly appealed to the media to respect the family’s personal space. When Bhagyaraj’s mortal remains were brought home on June 27, Radikaa once again folded her hands before the media and made an emotional plea.
“Cinema is our occupation, but we are also humans at the end of the day. If you want drama for the sake of TRP ratings, I will deliver that. Please, give us some privacy,” she said.
