&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Veteran Tamil filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran dies at 68 after prolonged illness")
One of the most notable directors in Tamil cinema, Velu Prabhakaran, passed away in the early hours of July 18, after he was reportedly admitted to a hospital in Chennai due to his prolonged ill health. As per reports, his health was not improving despite the treatment. Condolences poured in from fans and the film industry, soon after the news spread like wildfire.
What is the exact cause of the death of Vely Prabhkaran? Fans mourn the demise of veteran artist
According to reports, Velu Prabhakaran was admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and was treated for his illness. He passed away early this morning. Reportedly, his body will be kept at Valasaravakkam, Chennai, from Saturday evening, July 19, to Sunday afternoon, July 20, for his last rites.
A film director took to X and paid his tribute to Velu Prabhakaran and wrote, "Progressive thinker, Cinematographer, Director, I am saddened by the news of Velu Prabhakaran's passing. My deepest condolences to all those grieving his loss." One user wrote, "Rest in peace, great artist he was". Another user wrote, "Velu Prabhakaran is no more, rest in peace".
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
All about Velu Prabhakaran
Velu Prabhakaran continued his film career as a cinematographer in 1989. He has directed films like Kadhal Arangam, Asuran, and Adhika Manithan. His films often deal with caste oppression and sexuality. He was not only a director but also an actor, and has acted in films by other directors besides his own. Django, Gangs of Madras, Pizza 3, and Weapon are some of the last films he has acted in. He recently acted in the film Kajaana.
Not only his films, but Velu Prabhakaran himself has been seen as a controversial figure. He was arrested in 2020 for allegedly hurting the sentiments of religion and its followers for making defamatory remarks about the Kanda Sashti Kavasam.
Not only that, he fell in love with and married actress Jayadevi, who acted in his film. This marriage ended in divorce. Subsequently, at the age of 60, he married Shirley Das, the heroine of the love story film he directed, in 2017. Controversies arose at that time that Vel Prabhakaran had married an actress much younger than him.
