Veteran cinema producer K Rajan dies by suicide after jumping into Adayar River

CHENNAI: Veteran film producer K Rajan committed suicide on Sunday, leaving the whole South Indian film industry in shock. It is reported that the 85-year-old jumped into the Adayar River on Sunday evening. According to local reporters, the veteran producer asked his car driver to stop the vehicle at the bridge. It is said that Rajan walked out and jumped into the river. The body was recovered by fire and rescue, while police initiated an investigation. After being separated from his family, Rajan was living alone in a hotel.

K Rajan is known for his forthright opinions at events, and some of them have often courted controversies, too. He started producing movies with Suresh-starrer Brammacharigal in 1983 and later found a niche in financing movies with tier 2 actors with a modest budget. This experiment resulted in success with Rajan going on to produce many successful movies in the 90s.

In recent events, Rajan was very vocal against the soaring remuneration demanded by actors and the plight of producers in the industry. The shocking tragedy has ignited debates within the cinema industry.