the disappearance of Bharathiraja it was a huge loss for the south Indian film industry. This master director of Tamil cinema called “Iyakkunar Imayam” devoted almost half of his life to filmmaking.Bharathiraja’s death left everyone from actors to directors very sad. He was not only a great director, but also a dreamer, and his work always showed the local culture and human emotions in a unique way. While people today mourn the death of Bharathiraja, some celebrate the life journey of Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar.
How Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar became Bharathiraja
Bharathiraja’s real name at birth was Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar in Allinagaram near Theni. Till he entered the world of cinema, Bharathiraja used only this name. After entering films, Bharathiraja wanted an identity that would allow him to fulfill his artistic dreams. Thus, Bharathiraja chose the identity name “Bharathiraja”, said to be derived from the famous poet Subramania Bharati, and added the name Raja to it.In doing so, he created an identity known throughout Tamil Nadu, ensuring that people would only recognize filmmaker Bharathiraja, forgetting his date of birth.
Bharathiraja’s successful films changed the face of Tamil cinema
The name Bharathiraja gained recognition for the excellent films he made. ’16 Vayathinile’ is one of his first films and a landmark in the history of Tamil cinema as it had a completely new concept. After ’16 Vayathinile’, he went on to do more great films like ‘Kizhakke Pogum Rail’, ‘Alaigal Oivathillai’, ‘Mann Vasanai’, ‘Mudhal Mariyadhai’, ‘Vedham Pudhithu’, ‘Karuthamma’ among others. Bharathiraja has given opportunity to many actors and technicians to make a mark through his work. His authentic portrayal of village life won him enormous respect as a filmmaker.
Do you think Bharathiraja’s work accurately portrayed the culture of the village?
The last difficult chapter after the loss of his son, Manoj Bharathiraja
Even though he is an icon and a legend, Bharathiraja recently suffered a lot of pain in his personal life. Losing her son Manoj Bharathiraja broke her heart. It seemed that he could not accept this tragedy. He continued to act in films and make public appearances, but his sadness was palpable. Along with that, they had health problems that required constant medical attention.A man who used to bring emotions to the big screen in Tamil cinema faced a personal tragedy in recent years. However, despite everything, Bharathiraja remains a respected figure and his contribution is worth remembering.From Chinnasaamy Periyamayathevar to Bharathiraja, his story is truly an inspiration to all.
