New Delhi: Offering his condolences to the family of noted journalist and polical analyst Cho Ramasawamy who passed away on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday remembered the eminent personality as a dear friend, adding that he was pained by his demise.

Taking to Twitter the Prime Minister posted old video clips of Ramaswamy introducing him at a public event calling him 'Merchant of Death'.

"Cho Ramaswamy was a multidimensional personality, towering intellectual, great nationalist & fearless voice who was respected and admired. Above all, Cho Ramaswamy was a dear friend. I have been to his annual readers meeting which were an unprecedented editor reader interface," he said in a series of tweets.

Read: 82-year-old actor, political satirist Cho Ramaswamy passes away after illness

Asserting that Ramaswamy was insightful, frank and brilliant, Prime Minister expressed his grief at his demise.

Political satirist and founder editor of Thuglak magazine, Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy popularly known as Cho Ramaswamy passed away due to cardiac arrest in a Chennai hospital early this morning.

He was 82 years old. He was also an advisor to former Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter.

His body has been taken to his residence at MRC Nagar where his friends and family and public will pay their last respects to him.

Taking to Twitter, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan condole Cho's demise.

"I deeply saddened on the demise of Multifaceted personality shri.#choRamaswamy. My condolences to his family & Thuklag staff,thousands. Of its readers. May his soul rest in peace," he said in a series of tweets,

Cho had several laurels in his wreath like an actor, comedian, character actor, editor, film director and lawyer.

He was popularly known for his unbiased views on political matter and bold nature. His magazine carried critical thoughts and raging views with and admirable fearlessness.

He has acted in 89 movies and featured in 15 play, besides directing five movies and writing the screenplay for another five films.