rana (Tamil: . ; 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.
Contents
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1 Film career 2 Personal life 3 Awards

o o o o o o

3.1 Civilian honours 3.2 National Film Awards 3.3 Filmfare Awards South 3.4 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 3.5 Nandi Awards 3.6 Other awards

4 Controversies 5 Criticism 6 Filmography

o o o o

6.1 As director 6.2 As actor 6.3 Guest appearance 6.4 As Writer

7 References 8 External links

Film career[edit]
Bharathiraja started his film career as an assistant to director P. Pullaiya and Kannada filmmaker 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. 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.

Personal life[edit]
Bharathiraja was born as Chinnasamy to Periyamayathevar and Karuthammal. He is married to Chandra Leelavathi and has two children Manoj and Janani. Manoj is an actor who was introduced in Tajmahal, he [4][5] [6] is married to actress Nandana. Janani is married to Rajkumar Nambiraja. Bharathiraja's brother-inlaw Manojkumar has directed films like Mannukkul Vairam, Vandicholai Chinrasu, Vanavil and Guru Paarvai.

Awards[edit]
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Civilian honours[edit]
2004 Padmashri from the Government of India
[7]

National Film Awards[edit]

1982 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for Seethakoka Chiluka (Director) 1986 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for Mudhal Mariyathai (Producer & Director) 1988 National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues Vedham Pudhithu (Director) 1995 National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Karuththamma (Director) 1996 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for Anthimanthaarai (Director) 2001 National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Kadal Pookkal (Director & Writer)

Filmfare Awards South[edit]

1978 Filmfare Best Director Award for Sigappu Rojakkal

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards[edit]

1977 Best Director Award for 16 Vayathinile 1981 Best Director Award for Alaigal Oivathillai 2003 - Best Film in First Place Eera Nilam

Nandi Awards[edit]
1981 - Nandi Award for Best Director for Seethakoka Chiluka

Other awards[edit]
South Indian Film Technicians : Best Technician Award for Kallukkul Eeram

Controversies[edit]
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 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 andRadhika who attended the conference accused him of using that opportunity to eulogise [9][10] current Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha and launching attacks on Rajinikanth's ethnicity.
[8]

Criticism[edit]
In the month of June 2013 He was interviewed by a private Weekly Magazine, he has given a harsh [11] report about Manivannan Actor and Film director formerly was an Assistant with Bharathiraja. In his [12] words he has compared him to a beggar. Were whole film industry, some articles and Internet Pages has told that this was the reason of Manivannan's death were Manivannan was not able to tolerate the [13] words of his Teacher which brought severe Cardiac Attack to him.

Filmography[edit]
As director[edit]
Year Film language Notes

1977

16 Vayathinile

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Padaharella Vayasu Remade in Hindi as Solva Sawan Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director

1978

Kizhake Pogum Rail

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Thoorpe Velle Rail

1978

Sigappu Rojakkal

Tamil

Remade in Hindi as Red Rose Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director

1979

Solva Sawan

Hindi

1979

Puthiya Vaarpugal

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Kotha Jeevithalu

1979

Niram Maaratha Pookkal

Tamil

1980

Nizhalgal

Tamil

1980

Kotha Jeevithalu

Telugu

1980

Red Rose

Hindi

1981

Alaigal Oivathillai

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Seethakoka Chiluka Remade in Hindi as Lovers Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director

1981

Tik Tik Tik

Tamil

Remade in Hindi as Karishma

Year

Film

language

Notes

1981

Seethakoka Chiluka

Telugu

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu

1982

Kaadhal Oviyam

Tamil

1982

Valibamey Vaa Vaa

Tamil

1983

Man Vasanai

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Mangammagari Manavadu

1983

Lovers

Hindi

1984

Oru Kaidhiyin Diary

Tamil

Remade in Hindi as Aakhree Raasta

1984

Pudhumai Penn

Tamil

1985

Yuvadharam Pilicindi

Telugu

1985

Mudhal Mariyathai

Tamil

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil

1985

Ee Tharam Illalu

Telugu

1986

Saveray Wali Gaadi

Hindi

1987

Kadalora Kavithaigal

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Aradhana

1988

Jamadagni

Telugu

Year

Film

language

Notes

1987

Vedham Pudhithu

Tamil

National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues

1987

Aradhana

Telugu

1988

Kodi Parakuthu

Tamil

1990

En Uyir Thozhan

Tamil

1991

Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu Tamil

1991

Garuda Dhwaja

Kannada

1992

Nadodi Thendral

Tamil

1993

Captain Magal

Tamil

1993

Kizhakku Cheemayile

Tamil

Remade in Telugu as Palnati Pourusham

1994

Karuthamma

Tamil

National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare

1995

Pasum Ponn

Tamil

1996

Tamizh Selvan

Tamil

1996

Anthimanthaarai

Tamil

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil

Year

Film

language

Notes

1999

Taj Mahal

Tamil

2001

Kadal Pookkal

Tamil

National Film Award for Best Screenplay

2003

Eera Nilam

Tamil

2004

Kangalal Kaidhu Sei

Tamil

2008

Bommalattam

Tamil

2013

Annakodi

Tamil

As actor[edit]
Year Film Notes

1980

Kallukkul Eeram Directed by P. S. Nivas

2004

Aayutha Ezhuthu Directed by Mani Ratnam

2010

Rettaisuzhi

Directed by Thamira

2013

Pandianadu

Directed by Suseenthiran

Guest appearance[edit]
Year Film Notes

Year

Film

Notes

1991

Idhayam

Directed by Kathir

1991

Thanthu Vitten Ennai Directed by C. V. Sridhar

1983

Dhavani Kanavugal

Directed by K. Bhagyaraj

As Writer[edit]
Padaharella Vayasu (1978) Karishma (1984) Palnati Pourusham (1994)