Bharathiraja

Bharathiraja (born 17 July 1942) is an Indian film director who works mainly in the Tamil film industry. Making his debut in 1977 with 16 Vayathinile, he is known for realistic and sensitive portrayals of rural life in his films. As of 2017, he has won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards South, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Nandi Award. He has also directed films in Telugu and Hindi. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri award, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2004 for his contribution to the film industry.

Bharathiraja
Born
Chinnasaamy

(1942-07-17) 17 July 1942[1]
Theni Allinagaram, Madura District, Madras Presidency, British India.Now Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India.
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, film producer, actor
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)Chandraleela
ChildrenManoj Bharathiraja, Janani Raaja Kumar
Parent(s)
  • Periyamayathevar
  • Meenakshiyammal
[2]
AwardsPadma Shri (2004)

Film career

Bharathiraja started his film career as an assistant to Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal.[3] Later, he assisted P. Pullaiah, M. Krishnan Nair,[4] Avinasi Mani and A. Jagannathan. His first film 16 Vayathinile, for which he wrote the script, broke the then existing convention to create a new genre of village cinema. The film is now regarded as a milestone in the history of Tamil Cinema. About the film, Bharathiraja said: "This movie was meant to be a black & white art film produced with the help of National Film Development Corporation", but turned out to be a commercially successful colour film and a starting point for several important careers.[5] His next film Kizhake Pogum Rail produced similar results and eventually brought in criticisms that Bharathiraja was capable of catering only to village audiences. This led him to make Sigappu Rojakkal, about a psychopathic woman-hater that was totally westernized in terms of both conception and production.[6]

Bharathiraja confirmed his versatility and refusal to be tied down to one particular genre with an experimental film Nizhalgal (1980), and the action thriller Tik Tik Tik (1981). But undoubtedly, rural themes proved to be his strong suit as his biggest hits in the 1980s; Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), Mann Vasanai (1983) and Muthal Mariyathai (1985) were strong love stories in a village backdrop. Muthal Mariyathai starred Sivaji Ganesan in the lead, playing a middle-aged village head. Radha is a poor young woman who moves into his village for a living. The love that bonds these two humans separated not just by age but also by caste and class, is told by Bharathiraja with poetic touches.[7]

Vedham Pudhithu dealt with the caste issue in a stronger manner.[8] The film's narrative was seamless and starred Sathyaraj as Balu Thevar. It contains some of Bharathiraja's trademark touches as well as several ground-breaking scenes. However, it does follow the anti-Brahmin trend common in Tamil films – in this respect it departed from his earlier success Alaigal Oiyvadhillai, where the caste and religion factor was given a more balanced treatment. Bharathiraja has successfully managed to modernise his film-making techniques for the 1990s. The commercial success of Kizhakku Cheemaiyile and the awards that Karuththamma garnered stand as testimony to his ability to thrill the younger generation as well. Bharathiraja was on the same stage in 1996 to receive another National Award for Anthimanthaarai.

In late 1996, Bharathiraja was signed on to direct two films, with the Sarathkumar-starrer Vaakkapatta Bhoomi announced in October. The following month, he began work on a film titled Siragugal Murivadhillai, with Napolean, Heera Rajgopal and Prakash Raj in the leading roles. Both films were later shelved.[9]

His 2001 film Kadal Pookal won him that year's National Film Award for Best Screenplay. The well-known Tamil film director Bhagyaraj was one of his assistant directors. In 2008, Bharathiraja made his television debut with series Thekkathi Ponnu which aired on Kalaignar TV.[10] He went on to direct two other series Appanum Aathaalum and Muthal Mariyathai for the same channel.[11]

During early 2016, Bharathiraja was embroiled in a legal tussle with director Bala on making a film titled Kutra Parambarai, though neither filmmaker eventually made their respective films.[12][13] He later moved on to plan a film starring director Vasanth's son, Ritwik Varun, and Vikram's nephew, but did not begin shooting for the venture.[14] In 2018, Bharathirajaa is working on a film titled November 8, Iravu 8 Mani starring Vidharth, which narrates events following the decision to demonetise certain banknotes in India.[15][16]

Style, critique and public perception

When the old era was dominated by films shot inside studios, Bharathiraja directed village themed films which inspired Tamil cinema to capture live locations. Array of village films in Tamil cinema started after his trendsetting film 16 Vayathinile.[17][18] He changed the attire of male lead role as simple and without much cosmetics and female leads in his films as dusky looking which were before dominated by fair skinned ladies.[19] He started the style of directors speaking to the audience with his famous dialogue "En Iniya Thamizh Makkale(My sweet Tamil people)”.[20][21] Bharathiraja is revered as one of the best directors of Indian cinema. His ideas were original and his subjects were complex ideas expressed in a manner every common man could understand.[22]

He is also known for introducing hundreds of new faces to the film industry.[19][23] He has introduced many actors as new face notable among them are Karthik, Radha, Revathi Raadhika,and Vijayashanti.[24][25][26][27] Apart from lead actors he have introduced bunch of supporting actors. Notable among them includes Janagaraj, Vadivukkarasi, Chandrasekhar, Pandiyan and Napoleon.[28][29][30] As an experimental initiative he used to give new actors a small role in his films later they becoming popular among people and turning to busy actors. Many present day directors who were unknown to people turned into actors after playing a debut petty role in his films, K. Bhagyaraj, Manivannan, Manobala, Thiagarajan, Ponvannan are among them.[31][32] He was also instrumental in portraying Sathyaraj for the first time in lead role.,

Bharathiraja inspired many young film makers and runs a school called Bharathi Raja International Institute of Cinema (BRIIC) on film making.[33][34] His films were inspired by other directors like Maniratnam, Priyadarshan and more.[35]

Bharathiraja directed socially themed films with special emphasis on women and their complicated interpersonal relationships. He addressed other social evils like caste discrimination in his films.[24][18]

Personal life

Bharathiraja was born as Chinnasamy to parents Periyamayathevar and Karuthammal. He is married to ChandraLeela and has two children Manoj Bharathiraja and Janani.

Manoj is an actor who was introduced in Tajmahal and he is married to actress Nandana.[36][37] Janani is married to Malaysian Rajkumar Thambiraja.[36] Bharathiraja's brother-in-law Manojkumar has directed films such as Mannukkul Vairam, Vandicholai Chinraasu, Vaanavil and Guru Paarvai.[38] His brother Jayaraj made his acting debut with Kaththukkutti.[39] His relative Stalin is a television actor who acted in serials such as Saravanan Meenatchi and 7C.

Awards

Civilian honours

National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards South

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

Nandi Awards

Vijay Awards

Other awards
  • South Indian Film Technicians : Best Technician Award for Kallukkul Eeram

Controversies
  • He attended the Heroes Day conference at Jaffna and appreciated its heroism and valour.[43] Tamil Nadu Congress president Krishnasamy claimed he met the LTTE's leader Prabhakaran, accused of planning the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and who is banned in India.
  • He organised a protest by Tamil Nadu artists against the Indian state of Karnataka for not releasing Cauvery water at Neyveli. During a SUN TV interview, film co-stars such as Sarath Kumar and Radhika who attended the conference accused him of using that opportunity to eulogise current Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha and launching attacks on Rajinikanth's home state's ethnicity.[44][45]

Filmography

Films
No. Year Title Language Credited as Role Notes
Director Writer Actor
1 197716 VayathinileTamilYYRemade in Telugu as Padaharella Vayasu
Remade in Hindi as Solva Sawan
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
2 1978Kizhake Pogum RailTamilYRemade in Telugu as Toorpu Velle Railu
3 1978Sigappu RojakkalTamilYYRemade in Hindi as Red Rose
Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director
4 1979Solva SawanHindiYY
5 1979Puthiya VaarpugalTamilYRemade in Telugu as Kotha Jeevithalu
6 1979Niram Maaratha PookkalTamilY
7 1980Kallukkul EeramTamilYYAs Director BharathirajaActing & Lead role debut
8 1980Kotha JeevithaluTeluguYY
9 1980Red RoseHindiYY
10 1980Nizhalgal TamilYY
11 1981Alaigal OivathillaiTamilYRemade in Telugu as Seethakoka Chiluka
Remade in Hindi as Lovers
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
12 1981Tik Tik TikTamilYYRemade in Hindi as Karishma
13 1981Seethakoka ChilukaTeluguYNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
14 1982Kaadhal OviyamTamilY
15 1982Valibamey Vaa VaaTamilY
16 1983Man VasanaiTamilYRemade in Telugu as Mangammagari Manavadu
17 1983LoversHindiY
18 1983Dhavani KanavugalTamilYGuest appearance
19 1984Pudhumai PennTamilY
20 1985Oru Kaidhiyin DiaryTamilYRemade in Hindi as Aakhree Raasta
21 1985Yuvadharam PilicindiTeluguY
22 1985Mudhal MariyathaiTamilYNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
23 1985Ee Tharam IllaluTeluguY
24 1986Saveray Wali GaadiHindiY
25 1986Kadalora KavithaigalTamilYRemade in Telugu as Aradhana
26 1988JamadagniTeluguY
27 1987Vedham PudhithuTamilYDubbed for Nizhalgal Ravi, National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
28 1987AradhanaTeluguY
29 1988Kodi ParakuthuTamilYDubbed for Manivannan
30 1990En Uyir ThozhanTamilYY
31 1991Pudhu Nellu Pudhu NaathuTamilY
32 1991IdhayamTamilYGuest appearance
33 1991Thanthu Vitten EnnaiTamilYGuest appearance
34 1992Nadodi ThendralTamilY
35 1993Captain MagalTamilY
36 1993Kizhakku CheemayileTamilYRemade in Telugu as Palnati Pourusham
37 1994KaruthammaTamilYNational Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare
38 1995Pasum PonnTamilY
39 1996Tamizh SelvanTamilY
40 1996AnthimanthaaraiTamilYNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
41 1999Taj MahalTamilY
42 2001Kadal PookkalTamilYYNational Film Award for Best Screenplay
43 2002Kadhal VirusTamilYGuest appearance
44 2003Eera NilamTamilY
45 2004Kangalal Kaidhu SeiTamilY
46 2004Aayutha EzhuthuTamilYSelvanayagam
47 2008BommalattamTamilYY
48 2010RettaisuzhiTamilYSingaravelan
49 2013AnnakodiTamilYY
50 2013PandianaduTamilYKalyanasundaramVijay Award for Best Supporting Actor
51 2014Ninaithathu YaaroTamilYGuest appearance
52 2017Kurangu BommaiTamilYSundaram
53 2017PadaiveeranTamilYKrishnan
54 2018SeethakaathiTamilYHimself (Special appearance)
55 2019Kennedy ClubTamilYSavarimuthu
56 2019Namma Veetu PillaiTamilYArunmozhivarman
57 2020Meendum Oru MariyathaiTamilYYYOm
58 2020RockyTamilY
59 2020Maanaadu TamilY

Television

Dubbing artist

Singer
gollark: It does not so this is fine.
gollark: It now has a bad GPU in it, for purposes.
gollark: I bought an old tower server and do not pay for electricity.
gollark: Oh, 22 years old? Fascinating.
gollark: No idea, look it up.

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