Bharathiraja - An Ace Tamil Film Director
Film career
Bharathiraja started his film career as an assistant to Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal.[3] Later, he assisted P. Pullaiah, M. Krishnan Nair,[4] Avinasi Mani and A. Jagannathan. 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 film is now regarded as a milestone in the history of Tamil Cinema. About the film, Bharathiraja said: "This movie was meant to be a black & white art film produced with the help of National Film Development Corporation", but turned out to be a commercially successful colour film and a starting point for several important careers.[5] His next film Kizhake Pogum Railproduced 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.[6]
Bharathiraja confirmed his versatility and refusal to be tied down to one particular genre with an experimental film Nizhalgal (1980), and the action thriller Tik Tik Tik (1981). But undoubtedly, rural themes proved to be his strong suit as his biggest hits in the 1980s; Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), Mann Vasanai (1983) and Muthal Mariyathai (1985) were strong love stories in a village backdrop. Muthal Mariyathai starred 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.[7]
Vedham Pudhithu dealt with the caste issue in a stronger manner.[8] 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 modernise his film-making techniques for the 1990s. The commercial success of Kizhakku Cheemaiyile and the awards that Karuththamma garnered stand as testimony to his ability to thrill the younger generation as well. Bharathiraja was on the same stage in 1996 to receive another National Award for Anthimanthaarai.
In late 1996, Bharathiraja was signed on to direct two films, with the Sarathkumar-starrer Vaakkapatta Bhoomi announced in October. The following month, he began work on a film titled Siragugal Murivadhillai, with Napolean, Heera Rajgopal and Prakash Raj in the leading roles. Both films were later shelved.[9]
His 2001 film Kadal Pookal won him that year's National Film Award for Best Screenplay. The well-known Tamil film director Bhagyaraj was one of his assistant directors. In 2008, Bharathiraja made his television debut with series Thekkathi Ponnuwhich aired on Kalaignar TV.[10] He went on to direct two other series Appanum Aathaalumand Muthal Mariyathai for the same channel.[11]
During early 2016, Bharathiraja was embroiled in a legal tussle with director Bala on making a film titled Kutra Parambarai, though neither filmmaker eventually made their respective films.[12][13] He later moved on to plan a film starring director Vasanth's son, Ritwik Varun, and Vikram's nephew, but did not begin shooting for the venture.[14] In 2018, Bharathirajaa is working on a film titled November 8, Iravu 8 Mani starring Vidharth, which narrates events following the decision to demonetise certain banknotes in India.[15][16]
Style, critique and public perception
When the old era was dominated by films shot inside studios, Bharathiraja directed village themed films which inspired Tamil cinema to capture live locations. Array of village films in Tamil cinema started after his trendsetting film 16 Vayathinile.[17][18] He changed the attire of male lead role as simple and without much cosmetics and female leads in his films as dusky looking which were before dominated by fair skinned ladies.[19] He started the style of directors speaking to the audience with his famous dialogue "En Iniya Thamizh Makkale(My sweet Tamil people)”.[20][21]Bharathiraja is revered as one of the best directors of Indian cinema. His ideas were original and his subjects were complex ideas expressed in a manner every common man could understand.[22]
He is also known for introducing hundreds of new faces to the film industry.[19][23] He has introduced many actors as new face notable among them are Karthik, Radha, RevathiRaadhika,and Vijayashanti.[24][25][26][27] Apart from lead actors he have introduced bunch of supporting actors. Notable among them includes Janagaraj, Vadivukkarasi, Chandrasekhar, Pandiyan and Napoleon.[28][29][30] As an experimental initiative he used to give new actors a small role in his films later they becoming popular among people and turning to busy actors. Many present day directors who were unknown to people turned into actors after playing a debut petty role in his films, K. Bhagyaraj, Manivannan, Manobala, Thiagarajan, Ponvannan are among them.[31][32] He was also instrumental in portraying Sathyaraj for the first time in lead role.,
Bharathiraja inspired many young film makers and runs a school called Bharathi Raja International Institute of Cinema (BRIIC) on film making.[33][34] His films were inspired by other directors like Maniratnam, Priyadarshanand more.[35]
Bharathiraja directed socially themed films with special emphasis on women and their complicated interpersonal relationships. He addressed other social evils like caste discrimination in his films
Personal Life
Bharathiraja a Kallar, 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.
He is married to Chandra Leelavathi, and they have three children - two sons Manoj (the hero of 'Taj Mahal'), Kishore and daughter Janani.
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 Indian Rs.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 the 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 story and the script broke convention to create a new genre of village cinema.
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 starring 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 a 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.
He had plans of making short films with varying themes to attract the international audience and completed his 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 directed movies in Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi also.
Controversies
He attended the Heroes Day conference at Jaffna and appreciated its heroism and valour. 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 organised a protest by Tamil Nadu artists 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.
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 award because he felt that his emotions as a Tamilian supporting fellow Tamilians in Eelam were not heard by the Government of India.
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