Legendary director-writer Bharathiraja, who changed the way cinema is made in Kollywood, celebrates his 67th birthday today. His arrival in Kollywood marked the advent of a new genre of cinema. Films made before his arrival were mostly theatrical in presentation. Bharathiraja changed it all with his very first film, Pathinaaru Vayadhilae, which starred Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Rajni as the villain.
He is from a sleepy village called Alli Nagaram in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, yet he has a vision that is universal. He found villages brimming with life and ideas to be captured by the camera; thus almost all his films are based in villages and concepts related to it. He was able to see (and show) what others could not.
Following Pathinaaru Vayadhilae, he gave Kizhakke pogum rail, which skyrocketed his fame in Kollywood. Then he gave Sigappu Rojakkal, which displayed how he can adapt to Western style scripts. Then came the most astonishing film of Kollywood, which talked about the love of two people belonging to two different religions – Alaigal Oivathillai. He proved that he is not just another stereotyped director of Kollywood with his thriller Tik Tik Tik and Nizhalgal, a movie with an offbeat storyline. Then he broke the stereotype of Kollywood that only young can become film heroes with his Mudhal Mariyadai starring Sivaji, based on the love affair of a middle-aged man. Then came Kadalora Kavithaigal, which served as a guide to many filmmakers. He lived up to his ideology – that directors are socially responsible as their work bear an influential impact on moviegoers – with Vedham Pudhitu, which talked about caste and its effects on society. He discussed many social issues in his film and made viewers think of mending their ways. He displayed female infanticide in Karuthamma. He never made films for sake of making money. Instead, he treats films as a powerful medium to convey beautiful ideas.
