New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was pained by the death of actor and journalist Cho Ramaswamy, whom he described as a "towering intellectual".

Ramaswamy breathed his last in Chennai on Wednesday.

"Cho Ramaswamy was a multi-dimensional personality, towering intellectual, great nationalist and fearless voice who was respected and admired," Modi tweeted.

Modi said he was pained by the news of his passing away.

"Above all, Ramaswamy was a dear friend. I have been to his annual readers' meeting which were an unprecedented editor-reader interface," he said.

Modi said Ramaswamy was insightful, frank and brilliant.

The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences to the family and "countless readers of Thuglak" magazine, which Cho founded and edited.

Modi also shared a video on his Twitter page where Ramaswamy called him a "Merchant of Death".

"The feisty Cho Ramaswamy introduces me as the 'Merchant of Death'. Do watch this memorable interaction," Modi said.