When Bharathiraja returned his Padma Shri award: South filmmaker's bold stand that shocked the nation

Fans and the film industry are remembering many stories from the life of the legendary filmmaker Bharathiraja after his death. He was celebrated for creating timeless classics and introducing fresh talent to Tamil cinema, and was known for expressing his views openly. Bharathiraja is not the man to keep mum if he feels strongly about a cause. He often discussed issues he was passionate about and was involved in public movements his entire life. One such instance was in 2009 when he made news all over the country by returning the Padma Shri award conferred to him by the Government of India.

Why Bharathiraja decided to return the Padma Shri

Bharathiraja was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2004 for his contribution to Indian cinema. But five years later, he decided to give the award back. By then, the last phase of the Sri Lankan civil war and the agony of Sri Lankan Tamils had become a major issue. Bharathiraja was so touched by the developments that he announced publicly that he would return the prestigious award in protest. This act received considerable publicity and debate in the realms of politics and culture. To Bharathiraja, the act was simply a manifestation of his emotion and a way to release an inner feeling.

Bharathiraja leading protests and raising his voice

During that time, Bharathiraja was quite involved in many demonstrations and awareness programs. He stood beside people from the Tamil film industry and engaged in events that addressed the problems faced by Sri Lankan Tamils. Among the incidents he was involved in, the one most discussed was the big rally at Rameswaram, where he brought together various actors from the cinema fraternity. He made sure that the issue stayed in the limelight through his remarks and actions. Even when they didn’t agree with him, people respected his stand.

More than a filmmaker, Bharathiraja was a man of conviction

Bharathiraja’s influence is far greater than just his filmography. Despite his reputation for creating films in villages, he was also well-known for airing his views whenever necessary. Controversies related to his act of returning the Padma Shri Award made it one of the more noteworthy incidents in his life, not only from the perspective of filmmaking but also from others. Such controversies revealed a man who was passionate about his views and stood firm on them. This too is a part of the legend of the great director that Tamil cinema is mourning over.

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