Chennai, Dec 24 (IANS): Legendary Tamil filmmaker K. Balachander was cremated here Wednesday amid members from film fraternity and thousands of his fans.

Police and volunteers had a tough time in controlling the surging crowds. Men and women stood in long queues to have a last glimpse of the thespian, who died at the age of 84, plunging the Tamil film industry into gloom.

Balachander's funeral procession, which began at around 2 p.m. in a flower-bedecked vehicle from his residence, ended at the Besant Nagar crematorium here.

From superstar Rajinikanth to DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth to actors such as Vijay, Vikram, Arjun, Sathyaraj, Sarath Kumar, Khushbu, Prakash Raj, Sripriya, Manorama, Srikanth, Sivakumar, Dhanush, Visu, Mohan, T. Rajendar paid their last tributes.

Earlier, mourners queued up at the residence of the filmmaker, where his body was kept Wednesday for the people to pay their last respects.