Quick Info
| Profession | Film Director, Actor, Film Producer, Screenwriter |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 17/07/1941 |
| Age | 84 years (died on 10, Jun, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Allinagaram, Madura District, Madras Province, British India |
| Date of Death | 10/06/2026 |
Latest News about Bharathiraja
10/06/2026
Legendary Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja passed away on 10 June 2026 at his residence in Chennai due to age-related health complications at the age of 84. The Tamil Nadu government announced that he would be accorded full state funeral honours, burying the pioneer of rural cinema with the highest respect.
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Bio/Wiki
| Real Name | Chinnasamy Periyamayathevar |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Iyakkunar Imayam |
Physical Stats & More
| Eye Colour | Black |
|---|---|
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| College/University | Sathyabama University |
|---|---|
| Degree | Doctor of Letters (honorary degree) from Sathyabama University |
Personal Life
| Religion | Atheist |
|---|---|
| Caste | Kallar |
| Languages |
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| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date | 1974 |
| Wife/Spouse | Chandraleelavathi |
| Children |
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Family
| Father | Periya Mayadevar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | Karuthamma | ||||
| Siblings | 3 | ||||
| Other Relatives |
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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 |
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Social Media
| https://www.instagram.com/dir_bharathiraja/ | |
| https://www.facebook.com/directorbharathiraja/ | |
| https://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. |