Role: Indian Film Director and Actor
Birth
Bharathiraja was born as Chinnasamy to Periyamayathevar and Karuthammaal on 17th July 1941 in AlliNagaram near Theni in TamilNadu. He was the fifth child from his family.
Personal Life
Bharathiraja was married to Chandraleela. He has two children Manoj Bharathiraja(actor) and Janani Aiswarya. His son Manoj Bharathiraja had done the lead roles in a few of the Tamil films.
Bharathiraja Early Life
In 1963, he obtained the job as a Sanitary Inspector in the Public Health Department for the salary of Rs.75 per month. He had written, directed and acted in the dramas OorSirikkirathu and Summa OruKadhal during the Village festivals, which was his first dramas.
Life Career of Bharathiraja
After Bharathiraja shifted to Madras to begin his career, he got a job in a Petrol bunk. Then in 1967, with the great strive, he joined as an Assistant Director to the Kannada filmmaker PuttannaaGanagal. After he had assisted many film Directors like P.Pullaiah, Avinasi Mani, M.Krishnan Nair and A.Jaganathan, he had written the script for his first movie. His first film was “16 Vayathinile” with the village concept became the milestone in the Tamil Cinema history during the year 1977. This film was remade in other languages like Hindi and Telugu, and got a good response. In Hindi this film was remade as “Solva Sawan” and in Telugu as “Padaharella Vayasu”.
For his next movie “Kizhakke Pogum rail” he got criticisms, which made him to movies in different journals. In the next decade (from 1980), he directed the romantic stories from the village background like Alaigal Oivathilai, Mann Vasanai and Muthal Mariyathai. All these films brought on screen some of the social issues, which showed him as the Best Director of Tamil cinema for rural concepts in the era.
His next film “Vedham Pudhithu” is the story about the caste issue hailing in the villages. This film made the representation of the anti-Brahmin trends on the screen. During 1990’s, Bharathiraja brought in the modernization in his film making. Next, after the huge success of the films Kizhakku Cheemaiyile and Karuthamma, he became the favorite among the younger generations. His film “Karuthamma” got several awards with huge appreciation. In 1999, he made the direction of the film “Taj Mahal”, in which his son Manoj Bharathiraja took the lead role.
In 1996, Bharathiraja won the National award for the film ‘Anthimanthaarai”. In the same year, he had made the beginning for his movies “Vaakkapatta Bhoomi” and ‘Siragugal Murivathilai”. Unfortunately his both movies were put off permanently. He also made the dubbing for some of the films like Niram Maaratha Pookal, Alaigal Oivathilai, Mann Vasanai, Vedham Pudhithu and Kodi Parakuthu. Also he had sung the song “Kaadu Pottakaadu” for his film “Karuthamma”. Bharathiraja introduced many famous actors and actresses under his direction. He made a protest with TamilNadu Cine Artists against the Karnataka state for objecting to release Cauvery water in Neyveli.
Career after the year 2000
In 2001, he made the film “Kadhal Pookal” with his son Manoj and Actor Murali in the lead role. He made his first TV series ThekkathiPonnu in a Private TV channel in the year 2008, which got familiar among the TV viewers. Then in 2016, he got a clash with the Director Bala to make the film Kutra Parambarai. Later this film was made by none of these Directors. He had acted in several Tamil movies like Ayautha Ezhuthu, Kurangu Bommai, Padiveeran, Seethkaathi and Kennedy Club, which was not his direction. In 2013, he made the supporting role for the film “PandyaNaadu”. In the year 2019, he had done the character role in the movie “Namma Veetu Pillai’.
Bharathiraja Films remade
He remade his Tamil film “Alaigal Oivathillai” as “Seethakoka Chiluku” in Telugu, which won the National award for this remade version. In Hindi, he remade the same as “Lovers”. His film “Mann Vasanai” was remade in Telugu as “Mangammagari manvadu” under the direction of Kodi Ramakrishna and made the box office collection. His film “Kadhal Oviyam” was unsuccessful at box office, but got huge appreciation in the musical world.
He also made few movies of thriller stories like “Tik tik tik” and “Oru Kaidhiyin story”. His movies were remade in Hindi. The “Oru Kaidhiyin story” was remade as “Aakhree Raasta” and “Tik tik tik” as “Karishma”. In 1987, he remade his movie “Kadalora Kavithaigal” as “Aradhana” in Telugu. Later in 1993, he gave the Telugu film “Palnati Pourusham”, which was the remake of his Tamil movie “ Kizhakku Cheemaiyile”.
Bharathiraja Awards
- Bharathiraja has won National Awards for many times. In 1977, for the film “16 vayathinile” won the TamilNadu State film Award for Best Director.
- In 1979, he won the TamilNadu State Film Award for best Film second prize for the film “Putiya Vaarpugal”.
- Later in 1981, he got the Best Director Award for the movie “Alaigal Oivathillai”. In the following year, he won the national Film Award for Best Feature film in Telugu for the film “Seethakoka Chiluka”.
- In the same year, he won the Nandi Award for Best Director for the same film “Seethakoka Chiluka”.
- As a producer, he won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for the movie” Mudhal Mariyathai” in 1986.
- In 1988, he took with him again the National Film award under the category Best Film on other social issues for the film “Vedhem Pudhithu”.
- In the years 1995 and 1996, he won the National Film Award for his films “Karuththamma” and “Anthimanthaarai”.
- Later in 2001, for the film “KadalPookal”he won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. In the same year, he was honored with the Arignar Anna Award which is the TamilNadu State Film Honorary Award. In 2003, he got with his victory for the film “Eera Nilam”, which made the first position.
In 2008, the Government of India awarded him Padmashri award, the fourth highest award.