K. Bhagyaraj

K Bhagyaraj
Bhagyaraj in April 2014
Born	Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (1953-01-07) 7 January 1953 Vellankoil, Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, India[1]
Occupation	actor, director, screenwriter
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Praveena (m 1981–1983) (deceased) Poornima Jayaram (m 1984–Present)
Children	Saranya Bhagyaraj (b 1985) Shanthanu Bhagyaraj (b 1986)
Parent(s)	Krishnasaamy Amaravathiyammal

Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj is an Indian director, actor, screenwriter and producer active mainly in Tamil films. He has also written and directed Telugu and Hindi films and TV serials. He won a Filmfare Best Actor Award for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983). He is editor of weekly magazine Bhagya and has also written several novels.

Personal life

Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankovil near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Krishnaswamy and Amaravathiamma. He married twice. His first marriage was with actress Praveena, in 1981. She died due to an aggravated case of jaundice in August 1983. His second marriage was with actress Poornima Jayaram on 7 February 1984. She was his co-star in Darling Darling Darling (1983).^[2] The couple have a daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj and a son Shanthnu Bhagyaraj.

Film career

Early years (1977–79)

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognised for his scriptwriting talent.^[3] He first appeared as a junior artist playing small supporting roles with screen-space of not more than three minutes in the film like Pathinaru Vayathinile and later appeared similarly in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bhartiraja in two films – 16 Vayathnile and Kizhake Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's films, Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978), Tik Tik Tik (1981) and writing dialogues for Sigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial début with Suvarillatha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his début as the leading man in Puthiya Vaarpugal in 1979 directed by Bharatiraja. He received Best Dialogues Award for Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). Kanni Paruvathile, a film for which he wrote dialogues and screenplay and acted in negative role, was a huge success. Though now he had not achieved success as a director till 1979, he was motivated with success as the hero with Puthiya Vaarpugal, negative role and as a writer of story and dialogues in Kanni Paruvathile and decided to direct-act-write Oru Kai Oosai, which though not a huge success, gave him his first Best Actor Award.

Rise to stardom (1980–99)

He quickly established his own concern by 1980 and started producing and directing a string of distinctive films made mainly in the Tamil language. His first commercially successful main lead hero film was Bhama Rukmini in 1980. This film was neither directed-produced nor written by him. His voice was dubbed by some one else in all the films he did till 1980 including Bhama Rukmini. It was from films like Mouna Geetangal he started to dub his own lines in his films. He often stars in lead roles of the films he scripts and directs, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of film making is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double-entered-laced script and socially themed framework. His on-screen personae are typically characterised by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado.^[4] Success of Bhama Rukmini was followed by 12 films directed by him – starring him as the main lead which were box-office hits – Vidiyum Vari Kaathiru, Mouna Geethanagal, Indru Poyi Naalai Vaa, Antha Ezhu Natkal, Thooral Ninnu Pochhu, Poyi Satchi, Darling Darling Darling, Dhavani Kannavukal, Munthanai Mudichu, Chinna Veedu, Enga Chinna Rasa and Idhu Namma Aalu. From 1981 onwards successful Tamil films starring him, directed and written by him started being remade in Hindi with first being Mouna Geetangal remade as Ek Hi Bhool and Anztha Ezhu Natkal remade as Woh Saat Din. In the period 1980–1990, he rarely acted in films not directed or not written by him with exceptions being Naan Sigappu Manithan, Anbulla Rajinikanth and En Rathathin Rathame. His next directorial venture Chithirame Chithirame was box-office flop and he directed Mayadari Mogudu in Telugu which was a success. He introduced actress Urvashi in Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu and actress Kalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her début with 1985 film Chinna Veedu directed by Bhagyraj, a commercially successful film. He received Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor for his performance in Mundhanai Mudichu. He became nationally famous when he wrote the script for Mundhanai Mudichu remake in Hindi as Masterji with Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, which was huge success at the box-office. He decided to direct Hindi remake of Bhartiraja's 1984 directorial venture Oru Kaidhayin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt-out and Bhagyaraj cast Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remake Aakhree Raasta. Bhagayraj decided to remade classic old Kannada film Mallammana Pavada starring Rajkumar and B Saroja Devi into a new Tamil film Enga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a huge blockbuster. In 1989, K Balaji produced Tamil remake of Mr India as En Rathathin Rathame and the film was successful. In 1989, he wrote script for Idhu Namma Allu and decided to produce it but chose not to direct it by himself as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue which was Aararo Aaariraro. He received Best Film Award for Idhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by Balakumar whereas the other film Aararo Aaariraro also was both critically acclaimed and successful at box-office. After death of MGR in 1987, during a meeting with director C V Sridhar and producer Duraiswamay, an idea came across to Bhagyaraj to make use of unfinished 1977 film Anna Nee En Deivam starring MGR and Lata and make the film Avasara Police 100 starring himself as well in the lead. This 1990 film was widely promoted as a film with MGR and Bhagyaraj in lead role and the film was a huge blockbuster in 1990.

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as lead hero where director-producer-scriptwriter would be three different people than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films. Rudhra, Amma Vanthachu, Gnanapazham (1996), Suyamvaram (1999) were such successful films where he was involved only in capacity of that of actor. He also started the weekly magazine 'Bhagya' and he is the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 were Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Sundara Kandam, Raasukutti, Veetla Visheshanga, Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu. Failure of his Hindi directorial ventures Akhree Rasta and Mr Bechara made Bhagyaraj to decide that though he may only write scripts for Hindi films and that he would not direct by himself. He decided to remake Veetla Visheshanga as Mr Bechara in Hindi but again his directorial venture in Hindi was not successful. He cast his son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist in Vaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with father-son relationship. His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in the 1990s and were huge hits in Hindi – with Avasara Police 100 remade into Gopi Kishen, Sundara Kandam remade as Andaz (1994), Raasukutti remade as Raja Babu, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu remade as Papa The Great which were successful. He also wrote the script for Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995) starring Pandiarajan, whose actor-director was not himself in Hindi as Gharwali-Baharwali (1998).^[5]

His assistant directors for his directorial ventures Darling Darling Darling, Dhavani Kannavukal, Munthanai Mudichu, Mayadari Mogudu was Pandiarajan whereas Parthiban was his assistant director for Dhavani Kannavukal; later both Pandirajan and Parthiban went on to become director and actors.

Later years (2000–present)

He took a break from acting as the lead hero in Tamil films after release of Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998) and Suyamvaram (1999) as he was not happy with new scripts from other banners offered to him in 2000 and so from 2000 to 2006 he did not accept any film as the lead hero. Instead he directed TV shows Neenga Nenaicha Saadhikkalanga, Idhu Oru Kadhayin Kadhai (for DD Podhigai) and appeared in Apapadi Podu in Jaya TV in this period. His tele-serial 'Rules Rangachari' as very famous in DD channel & it completed 390 episodes. He wrote and directed the average hit 2003 film Chokka Thangam, an action film starring Vijayakanth. He launched his daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj with Parijatham, which he wrote and directed in 2006 and was a huge flop.^[6] He returned to acting with Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum and Rendu in a supporting role and with Kaasu Irukkanum as the lead hero in 2007. From 2007 to present he has been seen in more films as an actor in supporting roles. He directed his adult son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj in a romantic film Siddhu +2 in 2010. He ventured into Malayalam films as supporting actor with Mr Marumakan.

He wrote books like Vaanga Cinemavai Pattri Pesalam, Neenga Nenaicha Saadikkalaam, Ungal Bhagyaraj in Kezhvi Bhadhil (Five Parts) and has written seven novels.

Filmography

Year	S.No;	Title	Language	Credited as				Role	Notes
				Director	Producer	Writer	Actor
1977	1	16 Vayathinile	Tamil				Y		Assistant director Cameo appearance
1978	2	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Tamil				Y		Assistant director Cameo appearance
	3	Sigappu Rojakkal	Tamil			Y	Y		Cameo appearance
1979	4	Puthiya Vaarpugal	Tamil			Y	Y		Debut film as hero
	5	Kanni Paruvathile	Tamil			Y	Y
	6	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Debut film as director
1980	7	Bhama Rukmani	Tamil			Y	Y
	8	Oru Kai Oosai	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
	9	Kumari Pennin Ullathile	Tamil				Y
1981	10	Mouna Geethangal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	11	Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	12	Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	13	Antha Ezhu Naatkal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	14	Ek Hi Bhool	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Mouna Geethangal
	15	Radha Kalyanam	Telugu			Y			Remake of Tamil film Antha Ezhu Naatkal
1982	16	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	17	Poi Satchi	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	18	Darling, Darling, Darling	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
1983	19	Mundhanai Mudichu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Won Filmfare Best Actor Award
	20	Saattai Illatha Pambaram	Tamil			Y
	21	Moodu Mullu	Telugu			Y			Remake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu
	22	Woh Saat Din	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Antha Ezhu Naatkal
1984	23	Dhavani Kanavugal	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
	24	Anbulla Rajinikanth	Tamil				Y		Cameo
1985	25	Oru Kaidhiyin Diary	Tamil			Y
	26	Naan Sigappu Manithan	Tamil				Y
	27	Chinna Veedu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	28	Masterji	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu
1986	29	Aakhri Raasta	Hindi	Y		Y			Remake of Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
	30	Samsarada Guttu	Kannada			Y			Remake from Tamil film Kanni Paruvathile
	31	Kanna Thorakkanum Saami	Tamil			Y
1987	32	Enga Chinna Rasa	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
1988	33	Idhu Namma Aalu	Tamil			Y	Y		Also composer
1989	34	En Rathathin Rathame	Tamil				Y		Remade from Hindi film Mr India
	35	Aararo Aaariraro	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y		Also composer
	36	Love Maadi Nodu	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Antha Ezhu Naatkal
1990	37	Avasara Police 100	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Biggest hit in Bhagyaraj' career
	38	Chapala Chennigaraya	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Chinna Veedu
1991	39	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Also composer
	40	Rudhra	Tamil			Y	Y
1992	41	Raasukutti	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	42	Amma Vanthachu	Tamil				Y	Nandakumar
	43	Halli Meshtru	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu
	44	Beta	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Enga Chinna Rasa
	45	Sundara Kandam	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
	46	Sundarakanda	Telugu			Y			Remake of Tamil film Sundara Kandam
	47	Mane Devru	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Mouna Geethangal
1993	48	Annayya	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Enga Chinna Rasa
1994	49	Veetla Visheshanga	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	50	Gopi Kishan	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Avasara Police 100
	51	Raja Babu	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Raasukutti
	52	Andaz	Hindi			Y			Remake of Tamil film Sundara Kandam
1995	53	Thaikulame Thaikulame	Tamil			Y
	54	Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
1996	55	Mr. Bechara	Hindi	Y		Y			Remake of Tamil film Veetla Visheshanga
	56	Gnanapazham	Tamil				Y		Also Music composer
	57	Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu	Telugu				Y		Remake of Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame
	58	Adhirindhi Alludu	Telugu				Y		Remake of Tamil film Idhu Namma Aalu
1998	59	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
	60	Gharwali Baharwali	Hindi				Y		Remake of Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame
	64	Jagath Kiladi	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Avasara Police 100
1999	65	Patela	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Raasukutti
	66	Naanu Nanna Hendthiru	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame
2000	67	Papa the Great	Hindi						Remake of Tamil film Vaettiya Madichu Kattu
	68	Kabadi Kabadi	Tamil			Y
2001	69	Banallu Neene Buviyallu Neene	Kannada						Remake of Tamil film Veetla Visheshanga
	70	12B	Tamil			Y			Dialogue
2002	71	Sundarakanda	Kannada			Y			Remake of Tamil film Sundara Kandam
2003	72	Chokka Thangam	Tamil	Y		Y
2006	73	Parijatham	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
	74	Something Something Unakkum Enakkum	Tamil				Y
	75	Rendu	Tamil				Y
	76	Ravi Shastri	Kannada			Y
2007	77	Mudhan Mudhalai	Tamil				Y
	78	Kaasu Irukkanum	Tamil				Y
2008	79	Maanavan Ninaithaal	Tamil				Y
2009	80	Ninaithale Inikkum	Tamil				Y
2010	81	Uthamaputhiran	Tamil				Y
	82	Siddhu +2	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
2011	83	Appavi	Tamil				Y
	84	Maaveeran	Tamil			Y			Dialogue writer Tamil dubbed version of Telugu film Magadheera
	85	Vaagai Sooda Vaa	Tamil				Y
2012	86	Mr. Marumakan	Malayalam				Y
2013	87	Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu	Tamil
2014	88	Ninaithathu Yaaro	Tamil				Y	Himself	Cameo appearance
2015	89	Thunai Mudhalvar	Tamil			Y	Y	Periyapaandi
	90	Moone Moonu Varthai	Tamil				Y	Himself
2016	91	Kanithan	Tamil				Y
	92	Vaaimai	Tamil				Y		Cameo appearance
2017	93	Mupparimanam	Tamil				Y	Himself	Cameo appearance
	94	Ayyanar Veedhi	Tamil				Y
	95	Veruli	Tamil				Y
	96	Ivan Yarendru Therikiratha	Tamil				Y
	97	Thupparivaalan	Tamil				Y		Filming

References

External links

• K. Bhagyaraj on IMDb