| Name |
Bharathiraja |
|
| Birth
Name |
Chinnasamy |
| Also
called as |
Pal
pandi |
| Title |
Iyakunar
imayam |
| Profession |
Director,
Writer, Producer, Actor |
| Date
of Birth |
17th July 1941
|
| Birth
Place |
Allinagaram, Madurai, Tamilnadu
|
| Nationality |
Indian |
| Mother
Tongue |
Tamil |
| Family |
Father
- Periya Maya Thevar
Mother - Meenatchiammaal (a) Karuthammaal
Wife - Chandra Leelavathi
Son - Manoj
Daughter - Janani
Daughter-in-law - Nandhana
|
| Childhood
Passions |
Deer
hunting and literature |
| Earlier
jobs |
* Sanitary Inspector in the Public Health Department
in 1963, at a monthly salary of Indian Rs.75/-
* Staging dramas
* Radio programs
* worked in a petrol station
|
|
Debut |
Director: 16 vayathinile - Tamil
Yerra Gulabi - Telugu
Solva Sawan - Hindi
Actor: Kallukkul Eeram
Producer: Karuthamma
|
| Dramas |
* He wrote, directed and acted in his first dramas
"Oor Sirikkirathu" (The Town Laughs)
and "Summa Oru Kadhai" (Just a Story) in
Theni, Pazhani and Chettiyapatti village during
festival seasons.
* While in Chennai he wrote "Adhigaaram"
(Power) with the help of his friends. |
| First
job in the film world |
*
As assistant to director P.Pullaiya and Kannada
film maker Puttanna Kanagal
|
| Guru |
Puttannaa
Ganagal
|
| Early
days |
* Was the fifth child to his parents
* Was interested in the films right from his childhood
* Was a good speaker and went places spreading
social awareness among the uneducated villagers.
* Came to Chennai with just 350 rupees and his
mother's blessings
|
| Notable
films Directed |
16
Vayathinile
* His first directorial debut was a blockbuster
* Kamal, Rajini, Sridevi who acted in this film
later on became film superstars.
* Kamal was the hero and Rajini was a villian
in this movie
* Was a great block buster for Illayaraja as far
as music is concerned
Sigappu Rojakkal
* A movie about a psychopathic woman hater that
was totally westernized in terms of both conception
and production.
* This broke the general opinion of the public
that Bharathiraja can only direct village oriented
films
* Tik..Tik..Tik - action thriller
*Alaigal Oivadhillai, Mann Vaasanai and Mudhal
Mariyaadhai - were strong love stories in
a village backdrop.
* Mudhal Mariyaadhai film remains one
of the most successful films for both himself
and Sivaji Ganesan.
* Vedham Pudhithu, a masterpiece that can
be considered his best film so far, dealt with
the caste issue in a much stronger manner. It
stirred up many controversies
* Pudumai Penn - social awareness
* The huge commercial
success of Kizhakkuch Cheemaiyile and
the awards Karuththamma garnered stand
as testimony for his ability to thrill the younger
generation as well. |
| Favorites |
Poet
- Kannadasan
Director- Balu mahendra |
| Introduced into
film world |
Director/Actor(s)
- Bagyaraj, Manivannan
Actors: Karthik, Pandian, Raja, Nizhalgal
Ravi, Sudhakar, Rahul,Vijayan
Actresses: Radhika,
Rathi, Rekha, Revathi, Radha, Ranjitha, Uma, Aswini,
Suganya & Vijayshanthi |
| 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 message. |
| Trademark |
*
Always starts his speeches with “en iniya Tamil
makkale"
* Famous for directing and later producing village
oriented movies
* Probably most of the heroines introduced by
him used to have their film name starting with
'R' like Radhika, Rathi, Rekha, Revathi,Radha,
Ranjitha...
|
|
Memorable moment |
When his
mother Karuthamma received the National Award
for the movie 'Karuthamma' on his behalf. |
|
Facts |
* Bommalattam is his 50th film.
* His son Manoj has acted in many films
* When he entered the film world he wanted to
be an actor
* He does not want his films to be remade
|
