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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.

Film career[link]

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.

List of film artistes introduced by Bharathiraja[link]

Bharathiraja introduced many actors and actresses in Tamil 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
• Kajal Aggarwal – Bommalattam

Awards[link]

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Civilian honours[link]

• 2004 – Padmashri from the Government of India^[4]

National Film Awards[link]

• 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 Pookkal

Filmfare Awards South[link]

• 1978 – Filmfare Best Director Award for Sigappu Rojakkal

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards[link]

• 1977 – Best Director Award for 16 Vayathinile
• 1981 – Best Director Award for Alaigal Oivathillai

Nandi Awards[link]

• Nandi Award for Best Director for Seethakoka Chiluka

Other awards[link]

• South Indian Film Technicians : Best Technician Award for Kallukkul Eeram

Controversies[link]

• He attended the Heroes Day conference at Jaffna and appreciated its heroism and valour.^[5] 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.^[6][7]
• Bharathiraja returned his Padma Shri

Filmography[link]

As director[link]

As actor[link]

As Writer[link]

• Padaharella Vayasu (1978)
• Karishma (1984)
• Palnati Pourusham (1994)

References[link]