Bharathiraja

Film Director, Actor, Film Producer, Screenwriter

Indian Allinagaram, Madura District, Madras Province, British India

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Quick Info

ProfessionFilm Director, Actor, Film Producer, Screenwriter
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth17/07/1941
Age84 years (died on 10, Jun, 2026)
BirthplaceAllinagaram, Madura District, Madras Province, British India
Date of Death10/06/2026

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Bio/Wiki

Real NameChinnasamy Periyamayathevar
NicknameIyakkunar Imayam

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourSalt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

College/UniversitySathyabama University
DegreeDoctor of Letters (honorary degree) from Sathyabama University

Personal Life

ReligionAtheist
CasteKallar
Food HabitNon-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Marriage Date1974
Wife/SpouseChandraleelavathi
Children

Family

FatherPeriya Mayadevar
MotherKaruthamma
Siblings3
Other Relatives
Brother-in-lawManoj Kumar (film director and actor)
CousinStalin (television actor)

Career

Debut Film (as a director)16 Vayathinile (1977)
Debut Film (as a producer)Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979)
Debut Film (as an actor)Kizhakke Pogum Rail (1978)
Television Debut (as a director)Thekkathi Ponnu (2008)
Last Film (as an actor)Desiya Thalaivar (2025)
Awards and Honors
  • Civilian Honours: Padma Shri from the Government of India (2004)
  • National Film Awards: 1982, Best Feature Film in Telugu for Seethakoka Chilaka (Director), 1986, Best Feature Film in Tamil for Mudhal Mariyathai (Producer and Director), 1988, Best Film on Other Social Issues for Vedham Pudhithu (Director), 1995, Best Film on Family Welfare for Karuththamma (Director), 1996, Best Feature Film in Tamil for Anthimanthaarai (Director), 2001, Best Screenplay for Kadal Pookkal (Director and Writer)
  • Filmfare Awards South: 1978, Best Tamil Director for Sigappu Rojakkal, 1987, Best Tamil Film for Vedham Pudhithu, 1987, Best Tamil Director for Vedham Pudhithu, 1994, Best Tamil Film for Karuthamma
  • Tamil Nadu State Film Awards: 1977, Best Director Award for 16 Vayathinile, 1979, Best Film - Second Prize for Puthiya Vaarpugal, 1981, Best Director Award for Alaigal Oivathillai, 1994, Best Film Portraying Woman in Good Light for Karuththamma, 2001, Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - Arignar Anna Award in 2001, 2003, Best Film in First place Eera Nilam
  • Other Awards: 1980, Best Technician Award for Kallukkul Eeram, 2005, Honorary doctorate from Sathyabama University, 2015, SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award

Social Media

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/dir_bharathiraja/
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/directorbharathiraja/
Twitterhttps://x.com/offBharathiraja

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Bharathiraja completed his schooling in his hometown.
2. He loved reading literature as a student.
3. He used to write and direct stage plays during festivals.
4. Before entering films, he worked as a health inspector and earned Rs. 75 per month.
5. He worked at petrol bunks to survive before moving to Chennai to pursue a career in cinema.
6. He participated in many stage plays, radio events, and petrol bunk jobs while trying to enter cinema.
7. He started working as an assistant director to film director B. Pulliyavidam.
8. He learned cinema from noted Kannada director Puttana Kanakal.
9. In 1977, he directed his first film '16 Vayathinile,' which starred prominent actors.
10. He became the first film director to use live locations instead of fake studio sets.
11. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for '16 Vayathinile.'
12. He directed more than 40 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
13. He was known for introducing many new faces to cinema.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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