Kamal Haasan to Miss K Balachander's Cremation

Komal Vally Nair, CHENNAI.

Late Director K Balachander's body will be cremated around 2:30 pm today at the Besant Nagar Electric crematorium. Unfortunately, Kamal Haasan may not be able to make it as he has currently boarded a long haul flight from California, only a few hours ago. "He is expected to arrive later tonight and meet the famiy," said his representative.

Kamal Haasan with K Balachander. File Photo

KB's funeral was supposed to be held on Christmas, but has been pushed up to Wednesday itself, "We were basically planning to cremate him tomorrow, but we had to observe the Kuligai time. And according to it, the time between 2 and 2:50 is ideal," said a relative of the late director.

Director Mani Ratnam, actors Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Lakshmi, Radha Ravi, Napoleon, Pyramid Natarajan and music director Illaiyaraaja and AR Rahman flocked to the late filmmaker's home early in the morning to pay their last respects. Most of them were too grief-stricken to say much - a sign of how much KB had touched and influenced the last few generations of Indian cinema.

"I always wanted to work under KB sir's direction but managed to get a part in a movie produced by him. He inspired me and I learnt a lot from," said actor turned politician Napoleon who abruptly cut short his speech,"I am really sorry, im too grief stricken to speak, " he added and left immediately.

Rajinikanth pays tributes to Balachander

Actor and superstar Rajinikanth pays tributes to veteran film director Balachander at his residence on Wednesday.

Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja who quietly came at 6 in the morning stood beside the coffin and watched the body of the late director for ten minutes and left. Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman who arrived later too did the same. Actresses Suhasini and Lakshmi weeped as they gazed at the body of their guru KB. They too left without speaking to anyone.

Film unions TANTIS and FEFSI have cancelled all film related events and activities as a tribute to the director, so almost every top cinema personality is expected to visit the director's house - one last time.