From Puttanna Kanagal’s sets to cinematic greatness: Bharathirajaa passes away at 84

Legendary filmmaker Bharathirajaa, who revolutionised Tamil cinema by taking it out of studio sets and into the villages and landscapes of rural Tamil Nadu, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday at the age of 84. A Padma Shri awardee and six-time National Award winner, he transformed filmmaking with classics such as 16 Vayathinile, Alaigal Oivathillai, Mudhal Mariyathai and Karuthamma. Beginning his career as a health inspector before pursuing cinema, Bharathirajaa introduced and mentored generations of actors and filmmakers, launched several leading stars, and later reinvented himself as a celebrated character actor. His influence extended beyond Tamil cinema to Hindi and Telugu films, cementing his legacy as one of Indian cinema’s most transformative storytellers.Puttanna Kanagal and Karnataka shaped a master storytellerWhile Bharathirajaa redefined Tamil cinema, a significant chapter of his journey unfolded in Karnataka. Long before he emerged as one of Tamil cinema’s most influential filmmakers, Bharathirajaa arrived in Bengaluru in search of opportunities in the film industry. It was here that he found a mentor in legendary Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal, under whom he worked as an assistant director during his formative years. Those years proved instrumental in shaping his cinematic vision. Over the years, Bharathirajaa often acknowledged the role Karnataka and Kannada cinema played in his evolution as a filmmaker.From health inspector to trendsetting filmmakerA native of Allinagaram in Theni district, Bharathirajaa had been harbouring cinema dreams ever since he watched the Hindi film Mother India. However, circumstances forced him to begin his career as a health inspector. But he continued working towards a career in films by staging dramas. His first directorial venture, Sontha Veedu was shelved before it could go on floors. But the setback did little to deter him. The project would eventually evolve into the landmark 16 Vayathinile, starring Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi that changed the course of Tamil cinema and with his first five films turning out to be box office successes, there was no looking back for the maverick director.