Karunanidhi was in poor health from October 2016 and minimized his political activities and public appearances, with the last one being on his 94th birthday on June 3, 2018. On 28 July 2018, Karunanidhi’s health deteriorated and became “extremely critical and unstable”, and he was admitted at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai for treatment. He died there at 6:10 p.m. on August 7, 2018 due to age-related illness, which led to multiple organ failure.
He began his career as a screenwriter in the Tamil film industry. His first movie as screen writer was Rajakumari but his notable work is Parasakthi, starring Sivaji Ganesan. The movie garnered a lot of controversy and censorship, but when it released, it was a huge box office hit for its politically charged elements and having contained elements that criticized Brahmanism.
Known for being regarded as a long-standing leader of the Dravidian self-respect movement and ten-time president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) political party. Some celebrities paid tribute to the late leader:
மேற்கை ஏற்காது
வீழும் சூரியன் pic.twitter.com/nC2qH0y8By— Madhan Karky (@madhankarky) August 8, 2018
Superstar Rajinikanth wrote how it’s a ‘black day’ for all artists.
என்னுடைய கலைஞர் மறைந்த இந்த நாள் என் வாழ்நாளில் நான் மறக்க முடியாத ஒரு கருப்பு நாள்.
அவருடைய ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடையட்டும்
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) August 7, 2018
Sivakarthikeyan paid tribute.
ஓய்வில்லாமல் உழைத்த சூரியன் உறங்கப் போகிறது.. ஐயா உங்கள் கதிர்வீச்சுகள் தமிழும், கலையும், இலக்கியமும், அரசியலும் இருக்கும் வரை பிரகாசித்துக்கொண்டே இருக்கும்🙏#RIPKalaignarAyya pic.twitter.com/AkxSsqo1If
— Sivakarthikeyan (@Siva_Kartikeyan) August 7, 2018
Trisha shared images with the late leader.
Another era.Another end.Tamizh cinema will truly miss you❤️ #RIPKalaignar pic.twitter.com/wM4rGD6LdL
— Trish Krish (@trishtrashers) August 7, 2018
Radhika Sarathkumar bid a tearful good-bye.
Dark day for us, my mind and heart is full of memories of this tall leader @kalaignar89 , man who instilled and strived for the pride of Tamils. His spirit will always live on, will miss him terribly. A tall and great leader gone, bid him a tearful adieu🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/zk6GlwLG2v
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) August 7, 2018
Kamal Haasan and other celebrities, too, headed to Rajaji Hall in Chennai to pay their last respects to Kalaignar.
Actor @ikamalhaasan pays his last respects to #Kalaignar Ayya.. #RIPKalaignar pic.twitter.com/5gvumPFx3K
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) August 8, 2018