- P. Bharathiraja
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P. Bharathiraja Born Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar[1]
July 17, 1941
Alli Nagaram, Theni, Tamil Nadu, IndiaOther names Iyakkunar Imayam
PaalpaandiOccupation Film director, film producer, Actor Years active 1975-present Spouse Chandraleelavathi Parents - Periyamayathevar
- Meenakshiyammal
Awards Padma Shri award for his contribution to Cinema in 2004.
National award for the best screen play writer for Kadal Pookal in 2001.
National Award for Anthimanthaarai in 1996
National Award for Karuththamma in 1994 for being the best film with the a social messageP. Bharathiraja (Tamil: பி. பாரதிராஜா; born 17 July 1941 in Theni, Tamil Nadu, India), is a critically acclaimed South Indian filmmaker.
He displayed a story-teller's potential from an early age. Bharathiraja is known for his realistic and sensitive portrayal of village-life in his movies.
His mother Karuththamma received the National Award from the President on his behalf for his film named after her. Among his other landmark films are 16 Vayathinile, Sigappu Rojakkal, Muthal Mariyathai (with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead), Karuththamma, Alaigal Oivathillai, Mann Vasanai, Vedham Pudhithu, Kizhakku Cheemayile and Anthimanthaarai.
Contents
Personal life
Bharathiraja was born in Alli Nagaram, a small village near Theni, as Chinnasamy on 17 July 1941. He was the fifth child to his parents, Periya Maya Thevar and Meenatchiammaal alias Karuthammaal in a Tamil Kallar family. He is very different in that he used his mother's name as his initial. K. Bharathiraja is credited with launching the careers of several influential people in Tamil cinema. He is married to Chandra Leelavathi and they have two children - son Manoj (the hero of 'Taj Mahal') and daughter Janani Iswariya.
Early days
His childhood passions were deer hunting and literature. As a full-blooded youth, he aspired to the dream world of film-making. He had an unremitting passion for acting and other theatrical pursuits from his earliest days. He also happened to be a good platform speaker and travelled around, spreading social awareness among the villagers. He got a job as a Sanitary Inspector in the Public Health Department in 1963, at a monthly salary of INR 75.
Bharathiraja wrote, directed and acted in his first dramas "Oor Sirikkirathu" (The Town Laughs) and "Summa Oru Kadhai" (Just a Story) in Theni Pazhani Chettiyapatti village during festival seasons. This kindled his creative spirit and gave him the confidence to seek an opening in the Tamil film industry.
As he moved to Madras to seek his creative future, Bharathiraja staged his "Summa Oru Kadhai" and "Adhigaaram" (Power) with the help of his friends. He also took part in radio dramas and music programs & Kallar Sangam. But since these opportunities were too infrequent to be depended upon for a living, he took up a job in a petrol bunk keeping his cinema ambitions intact and fell in the eyes of the South Indian singing Legend S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who paved his way into film industry.
Film career
Bharathiraja started his film career as an assistant to director P. Pullaiya and Kannada film-maker Puttanna Kanagal. Eventually working with Krishnan Nair, Avinasi Mani and A. Jaganathan, he learned the grammar of film-making and got his first directorial opportunity in 1977. 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 movie is now regarded as a game-changer and a mile-stone in the modern history of Tamil Cinema. About the movie, said Bharathirajaa in his own words:" This movie was meant to be black and white art film produced with the help of National Film Development Corporation", but turned out to be a commercially successful color film and a starting point for several important careers – including that of Bharathirajaa.
Hitherto, most, if not all, Tamil films were studio produced. A village shown in Tamil cinemas, in general, was colorful and inhibited by ever smiling, healthy artistes. The farming tools used in black and white movies looked new and glittered in studio light. Even the poorest of the poor was shown as well-dressed in sparkling white dress with his hair well-oiled. The language the villagers spoke was either a city-dialect or superfluous grammatical Tamil of the educated-totally unrealistic and far removed from the dialects of the villagers.
Bharathirajaa’s 16 Vayathinile broke these rules. The camera moved out of the studio with a mission. A mission that would take the viewers on a ride to real Tamil Nadu villages. A mission that would start off a new genre – village cinema – that catered to the audience living in remote villages away from cities and cars and fashion. Coming out of the confines of a studio also lead to the breaking of several unwritten rules. The first of them was the portrayal of the protagonist. A good looking male hero clad in colourful costumes was a must for Tamil films till then. The lead role, Chappani, in 16 Vayathinile was what any other film maker would have relegated to an unimportant side role.Chappani was lame dirty ugly (in spite of Kamal Hassan-the actor donning the role-being a good looking young man ),stammered while he spoke and an IQ of an under 15. Bharathirajaa’s conviction and clarity in the conception of this character turned out to be revolutionary and enormously successful. This film also shown the world how Rajni Kanth can change the world of Villain, in fact, Rajni Kanth dominated the film more than Kamal Hassan. Goundamani was another character which gave power to the film as a side kick to Rajnikanth.
Next, the language flowed. The current that carried the conversations was not cinematic dialect or grammatic perfection but the soul of village Tamil itself. Bharathirajaa, with his pen, captured the sing-songs, the jargon, the cynicism and the allusions of the emotion packed village Tamil.
Costumes were uncomfortably true-to-life, dialogue was as-is-spoken, and village characters were tellingly genuine. As Bharathiraja himself agrees, the film was expected to bring in lots of accolades - which it did - but to do moderate business at the box office - which it did not. The film was a huge commercial success and kept the cash registers jingling even after several re-releases.
His next film Kizhakke 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. But contrary to what several observers expected, this film met with box office success and everyone agreed that Bharathiraja was here to stay.
Bharathiraja confirmed his versatility and refusal to be tied down to one particular genre with an experimental film Nizhalgal and an action thriller Tik.. Tik.. Tik. But, undoubtedly rural themes proved to be his forte as his biggest hits in the 80s Alaigal Oivadhillai, Mann Vasanai and Muthal Mariyathai were strong love stories in a village backdrop. Muthal Mariyathai deserves special mention starred veteran actor 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. Without doubt, this film remains one of the most successful films for both himself and Sivaji Ganesan.
Vedham Pudhithu dealt with the caste issue in a stronger manner. 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 modernize his film making techniques for the 1990s. The commercial success of Kizhakku Cheemaiyile and the awards Karuththamma garnered stand as testimony for his ability to thrill the younger generation as well. His mother Karuththamma received the National Award on his behalf from the President in 1994 for the film named after her. Bharathiraja was on the same stage in 1996 to receive another National Award for Anthimanthaarai.
He has plans of making short films with varying themes to attract the international audience and has currently completed his latest venture Kadal Pookal and picked up a national award for the best screenplay writer for the same film. The well-known Tamil film director Bhagyaraj was one of his assistant directors. He has also directed movies in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
List of film artistes introduced by Bharathiraja
Bharathiraja introduced many actors and actresses in Indian cinema, for instance:
- Goundamani - 16 Vayathinile
- Sathyajith - 16 Vayathinile
- Raadhika - Kizhake Pogum Rail
- Sudhakar - Kizhake Pogum Rail
- Bhagyaraj - Puthiya Vaarpugal
- Rati Agnihotri - Puthiya Vaarpugal
- Vijayashanti - Kallukkul Eeram
- Aruna - Kallukkul Eeram
- Vagai Chandrasekar - Kallukkul Eeram
- Nizhalgal Ravi - Nizhalgal
- Rajasekar - Nizhalgal
- Rohini - Nizhalgal
- Vairamuthu - Nizhalgal (Lyricist for the song "Ithu Oru pon Malai Poluthu")
- Karthik Muthuraman - Alaigal Ooivathilai
- Radha - Alaigal Ooivathilai
- Thiyagarajan - Alaigal Ooivathilai
- Pandiyan - Mann Vasanai
- Revathi - Mann Vasanai
- Ranjani - Mudhal Mariyadhai
- Dheepan - Mudhal Mariyadhai
- Raja - Kadolara Kavithaigal
- Rekha - Kadolara Kavithaigal
- Manivannan- NIZHALGAL
- Ramaa - En Uyir Thozhan
- Babu - En Uyir Thozhan
- Ramesh - En Uyir Thozhan
- Napolean - Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu
- Suganya - Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu
- Ruthra alias Aswini- Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu
- Rahul- Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu
- Ranjitha- Nadodi Thendral
- Manoj Bharathiraja - TajMahal
- Riya Sen - TajMahal
- Uma Shankari- Kadal Pookkal
- Priyamani- Kangalal Kaithu Sei
- Bosevengat- Eera nilam
- Vaseegaran - Kangalal Kaithu Sei
- Rukmini Vijayakumar - Bommalattam
Awards
National Film Awards
- 1982 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for Seethakoka Chiluka
- 1986 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for Mudhal Mariyathai
- 1988 - National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues Vedham Pudhithu
- 1995 - National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Karuththamma
- 1996 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for Anthimanthaarai
- 2001 - National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Kadal Pookal
Filmfare Awards South
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- Best Director Award for Alaigal Oivathillai
Nandi Awards
- Nandi Award for Best Director for Seethakoka Chiluka
Other awards
- South Indian Film Technicians : Best Technician Award for Kallukkul Eeram
- Indian Panoram Entry : Nizhalgal
- Sitara Award for Best Director for Seethakoka Chiluka
Controversies
- He attended the Heroes Day conference at Jaffna and appreciated its heroism and valour.[3] 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 banned in India.
- He organized a protest by Tamil Nadu artistes against the Indian state of Karnataka for not releasing Cauvery water at Neyveli. During a SUN TV interview, co-film stars like Sarath Kumar and Radhika who attended the conference accused him of using that opportunity to eulogise ex-Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha and launching attacks on Rajinikanth's ethnicity.[4][5]
- A staunch supporter of the Eelam Tamils and their right to self determination, Bharathiraaja has expressed full support for the independence of Tamil Eelam.
- Bharathiraja returned his Padma Shri because he felt that his emotions as a Tamilian supporting fellow Tamilians in Eelam were not heard by the Government of India
Filmography
As director
Year Film language Notes 1977 16 Vayathinile Tamil 1978 Kizhakke Pogum Rail Tamil 1978 Sigappu Rojakkal Tamil 1979 Solva Sawan Hindi 1979 Puthiya Vaarpugal Tamil 1979 Niram Maaratha Pookkal Tamil 1980 Kallukkul Eeram Tamil 1980 Nizhalgal Tamil 1980 Kotha Jeevithalu Telugu 1980 Red Rose Hindi 1981 Alaigal Oivathillai Tamil 1981 Valibamey Vaa Vaa Tamil 1981 Tik Tik Tik Tamil 1981 Seethakoka Chiluka Telugu 1982 Kathal Oviyam Tamil 1983 Man Vasanai Tamil 1983 Lovers Hindi 1984 Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Tamil 1984 Pudhumai Penn Tamil 1985 Yuvadharam Pilicindi Telugu 1985 Mudhal Mariyathai Tamil 1985 Ee Tharam Illalu Telugu 1986 Saveray Wali Gaadi Hindi 1987 Kadalora Kavithaigal Tamil 1988 Jamadagni Telugu 1987 Vedham Pudhithu Tamil 1987 Aradhana Telugu 1988 Kodi Parakuthu Tamil 1990 En Uyir Thozhan Tamil 1991 Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu Tamil 1991 Garuda Dhwaja Kannada 1992 Nadodi Thendral Tamil 1992 Captain Magal Tamil 1993 Kizhakku Cheemayile Tamil 1994 Karuthamma Tamil 1995 Pasum Pon Tamil 1996 Tamizh Selvan Tamil 1996 Anthimanthaarai Tamil 1999 Taj Mahal Tamil 2001 Kadal Pookal Tamil 2003 Eera Nilam Tamil 2004 Kangalal Kaidhu Sei Tamil 2008 Bommalattam Tamil 2012 Annakodiyum Kodiveeranum Tamil Filming As actor
Year Film Notes 2004 Aayutha Ezhuthu Directed by Mani Ratnam 2010 Rettaisuzhi As Writer
- Padaharella Vayasu (1978)
- Karishma (1984)
- Palnati Pourusham (1994)
References
- ^ http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/bharathiraja.asp
- ^ http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/bharathiraja01.asp
- ^ http://kollywood.allindiansite.com/g/41ta.html
- ^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/10/14/stories/2002101403500500.htm
- ^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/10/13/stories/2002101304130100.htm
6. ^ Bharathiraja will rock: Mani Ratnamin www.kalakkalcinema.com
National Film Award for Best Screenplay 1967–1980 Satyajit Ray (1967) · S. L. Puram Sadanandan (1968) · Pandit Anand Kumar (1969) · Puttanna Kanagal (1970) · Satyajit Ray (1971) · Tapan Sinha (1972) · Gulzar (1973) · Mrinal Sen and Ashish Burman (1974) · Satyajit Ray (1975) · no award (1976) · Vijay Tendulkar (1977) · Satyadev Dubey, Shyam Benegal, Girish Karnad (1978) · T. S. Ranga and T. S. Nagabharana (1979) · Sai Paranjpye (1980)
1981–2000 Mrinal Sen (1981) · K. Balachander (1982) · Mrinal Sen (1983) · G V Iyer (1984) · Adoor Gopalakrishnan (1985) · Bhabendra Nath Saikia (1986) · Budhdhadeb Dasgupta (1987) · Adoor Gopalakrishnan (1988) · Arundhati Roy (1989) · M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1990) · K. S. Sethumadhavan (1991) · M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1992) · M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1993) · Satyajit Ray (1994) · M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1995) · Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Ashok Mishra (1996) · Agathiyan (1997) · Rituparno Ghosh (1998) · Ashok Mishra (1999) · Madampu Kunjukuttan (2000)
2001–2009 Bharathiraja (2001) · Neelakanta (2002) · Aparna Sen (2003) · Gautam Ghose (2004) · Manoj Tyagi and Nina Arora (2005) · Prakash Jha, Manoj Tyagi and Shridhar Raghavan (2006) · Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra (2007) · Feroz Abbas Khan (2008) · Sachin Kundalkar (2009)
2010–present P. F. Mathews and Harikrishna (Original Screenplay); Gopal Krishan Pai and Girish Kasaravalli (Adapted Screenplay); Pandiraj (Dialogues) (2010) · Vetrimaaran (Original Screenplay); Anant Mahadevan and Sanjay Pawar (Adapted Screenplay); Sanjay Pawar (Dialogues) (2011)
Categories:- Tamil film directors
- Tamil-language film directors
- Tamil screenwriters
- Indian film directors
- Indian actors
- 1941 births
- Living people
- National Film Award winners
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
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