| P. Bharathiraja | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar[1] July 17, 1941 Alli Nagaram, Theni, Madras Presidency, India |
| Other names | Paalpaandi |
| Occupation | film director, film producer, actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Chandraleelavathi |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Padma Shri award for his contribution to Cinema in 2004 |
P. Bharathiraja (Tamil: பி. பாரதிராஜா; born 17 July 1941) is a South Indian filmmaker who works mainly in the Tamil film industry. Bharathiraja displayed a story-teller's potential from an early age. He is known for his realistic and sensitive portrayal of village-life in his movies.
He is well known for his work in 16 Vayathinile, Muthal Mariyathai, Vedham Pudhithu, Karuththamma, Kizhakku Cheemayile and Anthimanthaarai. He has won six National Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and is also a recipient of other awards such as Filmfare Awards South, Cinema Express Awards and Nandi Awards.
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Bharathiraja was born as Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar in Alli Nagaram, a small village near Theni on 17 July 1941 as the fifth child to his parents—Periyamayathevar and Meenakshiyammal. He uses his mother's name as his initial. 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—Manoj and daughter Janani Iswariya.
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.
Bharathiraja started his film career as an assistant to director P. Pullaiya and Kannada film-maker Puttanna Kanagal. He also worked 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.
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 1980s Alaigal Oivadhillai, Mann Vasanai and Muthal Mariyathai were strong love stories in a village backdrop. Muthal Mariyathai 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.
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.
Bharathiraja introduced many actors and actresses in Indian cinema, for instance:
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Aayutha Ezhuthu | Directed by Mani Ratnam |
| 2010 | Rettaisuzhi |
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