Actor-director TP Gajendran passes away, TN CM MK Stalin pays respects to his college friend, film industry pays homage

Popular actor and director TP Gajendran has passed away. He was 68.  Gajendran breathed his last at his residence after battling an illness. The ace director, who made his debut with Chidambara Rahasiyam (1985), was known for his medium-budget films based on family subjects, including Middle Class Madhavan, Banda Paramasivam, Budget Padmanabhan, which gained popularity upon release. Before taking the plunge into direction, he had worked with directors K Balachander, Visu and Rama Narayanan. He has also served as the president of Cinema Technicians Association.

Gajendran was also a popular actor as well and had appeared onscreen in films like Chidambara Rahasiyam, Aval Sumangalithan, Vaa Magale Vaa, Priyamudan, Bharathi, Budget Padmanabhan, Middle Class Madhavan, Pammal K Sambandam, Chokka Thangam, Banda Paramasivam, Pithamagan, Perazhagan, Majaa, Perarasu, Ambasamudram Ambani to name a few. He was last seen in Panni Kutty, which was directed by Anucharan and starred Yogi Babu and Karunakaran in the lead.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin along with Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ma Subramaniam paid their respects to the ace director at his residence. Stalin had stated that Gajendran was his friend from college and that he was deeply saddened by his demise. Gajendran's contribution to the arts and cinema has been tremendous. My deep condolences to his family and the film fraternity.

Actors Manobala, Goundamani, Senthil, Ramesh Kanna, too, paid their last respects to the director. Manobala stated that he knew Gajendran from the days the latter worked with Visu. No other person has handled family subjects with such ease.We have worked together in many films, including Chandramukhi. Every time I wished him on his birthday, he would be on cloud nine. The pain is unbearable (sic)."

Actor-comedian Senthil said that he has worked with Gajendran in four -five films. " He was a good man. He was friendly with anyone and has never courted controversy in his career.