One of the country's most respected music directors, Ilaiyaraaja, has expressed his condolences at the death of five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi by calling his death an 'irreplaceable loss' to Tamils.
The music director, who is in Australia with his troupe to perform at a concert there, sent his condolence message through a video recording.
Unfortunately, the video recording ends abruptly.
"Dear members of the Tamil community, today has turned into a day of mourning for us. The day Dr Kalaignar has passed is indeed a day of mourning for us. I do not know how we will be able to overcome this sorrow."
"Dr Kalaignar was the last political leader. In cinema, he was the last of the great screenplay-dialogue writers who could write in pure Tamil. Be it arts, politics or Tamil, he excelled in all departments and his loss is indeed an irreplaceable loss."
M Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018): The scriptwriter of Tamil politics
"I am here in Australia with my group to perform at a concert. This is something which was scheduled six months ago," the music director said.
Karunanidhi passed away due to ailments caused by old age on Tuesday and was laid to rest at the Anna Samadhi on Marina Beach yesterday.