EVENTS

SHRI. K. BHAGYARAJ

 

Bhagyaraj  is a director, actor, script-writer and producer, working in the Tamil film industry. His popularity peaked during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Personal life

Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankoil near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Krishnaswamy and Amaravathiamma. He married twice. His first marriage was with actress Praveena, in 1981. She died due to an aggravated case of jaundice in August 1983.

His second marriage was with actress Poornima Jayaram on February 7, 1984. The couple have a daughter Saranya and a son Shantanu.

First Wife

 Second Wife

 With Family

Film Career

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognized for his scriptwriting talent. He first appeared as a junior artist playing small supporting roles with screen-space of not more than 3 minutes in the film like Pathinaru Vayathinile (1977) and later appeared similarly in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bhartiraja in 2 films – 16 Vayathnile and Kizhake Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's films, Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978), Tik Tik Tik (1981) and writing dialogues for Sigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial debut withSuvarillatha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his debut as the leading man in Puthiya Vaarpugal in 1979 directed by Bharatiraja. He received Best Dialogues Award for Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). Kanni Paruvathile, a film for which he wrote dialogues and screenplay and acted in negative role, was a huge success. Though now he had not achieved success as a director till 1979, he was motivated with success as the hero with Puthiya Vaarpugal, negative role and as a writer of story and dialogues in Kanni Paruvathile and decided to direct-act-write Oru Kai Oosai,which though not a huge success, gave him his first Best Actor Award which was shooted at Vellankovil.

He quickly established his own concern by 1980 and started producing and directing a string of distinctive films made mainly in the Tamil language. His first commercially successful main lead hero film was Bhama Rukmini in 1980. This film was neither directed-produced nor written by him. His voice was dubbed by some one else in all the films he did till 1980 including Bhama Rukmini. It was from films like Mouna Geetangal he started to dub his own lines in his films.He often stars in lead roles of the films he scripts and directs, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of film making is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double-entered-laced script and socially themed framework. 

His on-screen personae are typically characterized by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado. Success of Bhama Rukmini was followed by 12 films directed by him – starring him as the main lead which were box-office hits – Vidiyum Vari Kaathiru, Mouna Geethanagal, Indru Poyi Naalai Vaa, Antha Ezhu Natkal, Thooral Ninnu Pochhu, Poyi Satchi, Darling Darling Darling, Dhavani Kannavukal, Munthanai Mudichu, Chinna Veedu,Enga Chinna Rasa and Idhu Namma Aalu. From 1981 onwards successful Tamil films starring him, directed and written by him started being remade in Hindi with first being Mouna Geetangal remade as Ek Hi Bhool and Anztha Ezhu Natkal remade as Woh Saat Din. In the period 1980–1990, he rarely acted in films not directed or not written by him with exceptions being Naan Sigappu Manithan, Anbulla Rajinikanth and En Rathathin Rathame.

His next directorial venture Chithirame Chithirame was box-office flop and he directed Mayadari Mogudu in Telugu which was a success. He introduced actress Urvashi in Tamil film Mudhanai Mudichu and actress Kalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her debut with 1985 film Chinna Veedu directed by Bhagyraj, a commercially successful film. He received Film-fare Award for Best Tamil Actor for his performance in Mundhanai Mudichu. He became nationally famous when he wrote the script for Mundhanai Mudichu remake in Hindi as Masterji with Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, which was flopped at the box-office. He decided to direct Hindi remake of Bhartiraja's 1984 directorial venture Oru Kaidhayin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt out and Bhagyaraj cast Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remake Aakhree Rasta the Hindi version was became a blockbuster^.. Movies like Anbulla Rajinikanth and En Rathathin Rathame were flops. Now due to flopping of the Hindi remake, Bhagayraj decided to play safe and remade classic old Kannada movie Mallammana Pavada starring Rajkumar and B. Saroja Devi into a new Tamil movie Enga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a huge blockbuster. In 1989, K.Balaji produced Tamil remake of Mr. India as En Rathathin Rathame but the film was unsuccessful.In 1989, he wrote script for Idhu Namma Allu and decided to produce it but chose not to direct it by himself as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue which was Aararo Aaariraro. He received Best Film Award for Idhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by Balakumar whereas the other film Aararo Aaariraro also was critically acclaimed, proved to be successful at box-office. 

After death of MGR in 1987, during a meeting with director C.V Sridhar and producer Duraiswamay, an idea came across to Bhagyaraj to make use of unfinished 1977 film Anna Nee En Deivam starring MGR and Lata and make the film Avasara Police 100 starring himself as well in the lead. This 1990 film was widely promoted as a film with MGR and Bhagyaraj in lead role and the film was a huge blockbuster in 1990.

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as lead hero where director-producer-scripwriter would be three different people than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films. Rudhra, Amma Vanthachu, Gnanapazham(1996), Suyamvaram(1999) were such successful films where he was involved only in capacity of that of actor. He also started the weekly magazine 'Bhagya' and he is the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 were Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Sundara Kandam, Raasukutti, Veetla Visheshanga, Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu. 

Failure of his Hindi directorial ventures Akhree Rasta and Mr.Bechara made Bhagyaraj to decide that though he may only write scripts for Hindi films and that he would not direct by himself. He decided to remake Veetla Visheshanga as Mr.Bechara in Hindi but again his directorial venture in Hindi was not successful. He cast his son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist in Vaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with father-son relationship. His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in 1990's and were huge hits in Hindi – with Avasara Police 100 remade into Gopi Kishen, Sundara Kandam remade as Andaz(1994), Raasukutti remade as Raja Babu, Vaettiya Madichu Kattu remade as Papa The Great which were successful. He also wrote the script for Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame(1995) starring Pandiarajan, whose actor-director was not himself in Hindi as Gharwali-Baharwali(1998).

Bhagyaraj has made more than thirty films. He has made forays into the Hindi language film industry (Bollywood), directing stars of likes of Amitabh Bachchan. In recent times, the failure of his films like Gnana Pazham, Vaettiya Madichi Kattu (1997) and Sokka Thangam forced him to retire. His comeback film in 2006, Parijatham, was an effort well-received in the cinemas. Bhagyaraj also produces television serials.

Actor

             Palakkattu Madhavan  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Thunai Mudhalvar  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Kanithan  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Vaaimai  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Mapillai Vinayagar  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu  - 2013 ( Tamil ) 

·         Mr. Marumakan  - 2012 ( Malayalam ) 

·         Appavi  - 2011 ( Tamil ) 

·         Vaagai Sooda Vaa  - 2011 ( Tamil ) 

·         Uthama Puthiran  - 2010 ( Tamil ) 

·         Ninaithale Inikkum  - 2009 ( Tamil ) 

·         Maanavan Ninaithal  - 2008 ( Tamil ) 

·         Mudhal Mudhalai  - 2007 ( Tamil ) 

·         Parijatham  - 2006 ( Tamil ) 

·         Rendu  - 2006 ( Tamil ) 

·         Something Something Unakkum Enakkum - 2006 ( Tamil ) 

·         Avuna  - 2003 ( Telugu ) 

·         Suyamvaram  - 1999 ( Tamil ) 

·         Avasara Police 100  - 1990 ( Tamil ) 

·         Araro Ariraro  - 1989 ( Tamil ) 

·         Naan Sigappu Manithan 1985  - 1985 ( Tamil ) 

·         Anbulla Rajinikanth  - 1984 ( Tamil ) 

·         Dhaavani Kanavugal  - 1984 ( Tamil ) 

·         Sigappu Rojakal  - 1978 ( Tamil ) 

·         Yerra Gulabeelu  - 1978 ( Telugu ) 

·         Kizhakkey Pogum Rayil  - 1978 ( Tamil ) 

Director

·         Thunai Mudhalvar  - 2015 ( Tamil ) 

·         Sidhu Plus Two First Attempt  - 2010 ( Tamil ) 

·         Chokka Thangam  - 2003 ( Tamil ) 

·         Avasara Police 100  - 1990 ( Tamil ) 

·         Araro Ariraro  - 1989 ( Tamil ) 

·         Dhaavani Kanavugal  - 1984 ( Tamil ) 

Producer

·         Sidhu Plus Two First Attempt  - 2010 ( Tamil ) 

·         Dhaavani Kanavugal  - 1984 ( Tamil ) 

Music Director

·         Araro Ariraro  - 1989 ( Tamil ) 

·         Thenpaandi Seemaiyilae  - 1988 ( Tamil ) 

·         Sahadevan Mahadevan  - 1988 ( Tamil )